OP clean-up at technical education body continues

In yet another push to expedite the clean-up of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), all officers on deputation at the council will be transferred to their parent cadres or departments.

In yet another push to expedite the clean-up of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), all officers on

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deputation at the council will be transferred to their parent cadres or departments.

The AICTE is in charge of approving private institutes in technical and business education.

A majority of AICTE staff, including regional directors and bureau heads, are on deputation or on contract from various government departments, the University Grants Commission and academic institutions.

“There has been a lot of bungling, and complaints about corruption have come in constantly. So the ministry has decided to bring new people into the system,” said a Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry source who didn’t want to be named. “Almost all the staff will be sent back to their parent departments,” the source added.

At least 40 officers, including academicians, will be affected. Notably, regional officer Sriom Dalal, against whom a bribery case was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was on deputation from Haryana.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said the CBI was yet to submit its report on corrupt officials in the council.

“The CBI is an independent investigating body and is doing its job. As for action to be taken by the ministry, we will have to wait and watch,” said Sibal.

Late last week, the CBI had arrested AICTE member secretary K Narayan Rao on charges of demanding and accepting a Rs 5 lakh bribe.

The government is likely to remove Yadav from the chairman’s post once the CBI files a charge sheet against him. However, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet will have the final say in the matter.