Pay salary to faculty on time, relax fees, share internet: AICTE warns engineering colleges

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has warned engineering colleges across India to comply with the rules it has set considering the ongoing Covid situation in the country. The statutory body reminded engineering colleges to help students and faculty members during this tough time. AICTE said that it is continuously getting grievances from the faculty and staff regarding termination of services, non-payment of salary and also from students regarding insistence by institutes for paying full year or full term fees in one go.
In a latest circular, it reminded institutions and colleges to not insist on payment of full fee in one go and advised colleges to collect fees in three or four equal installments till normalcy is restored. “Accordingly, all colleges or institutions are directed to display this information on their website and also communicate the same to all the students through email,” the circular said.
As for payment of salary to faculty members, AICTE said, “There shall be no termination of faculty without enough disciplinary ground and due process of redressal. Salary and other dues to the faculty/staff members shall be released monthly on time and also terminations (if any) made during the lockdown shall be withdrawn. This is to be complied strictly.”
AICTE said that engineering colleges and institutions need to strictly adhere to these instructions and any instance of non-compliance reported to the Council may attract severe penal action as per norms.
The body also recommends sharing of internet bandwidth with other colleges and institutions. “Due to the inability of certain students to access internet services, colleges or institutions are advised to allow students of other colleges or institutions in their vicinity to access the internet facility at their colleges or institutions,” it said.
Colleges may permit students of other institutions to share their campus internet Wi-Fi facility against showing the ID card of a college where they are studying. Also, attendance rule may be relaxed in the light of lockdown and non-availability of bandwidth in certain remote areas.