Protect teachers in private colleges: SC:

Protect teachers in private colleges: SC:

Context

• Mr. Yadav, Filed a PIL plea to end ‘blackmail, harassment’ of over four lakh teachers in various private engineering colleges, recognised by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).

Plea

• Moved by the petition, the court ordered that the AICTE shall take a conscious decision of issues canvassed, and take such remedial action in consonance with law.

Remedial action

• Mr. Yadav, in a PIL plea, referred to the plight of over four lakh teachers in various private engineering colleges, recognised by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).
• The court’s order was in response to Mr. Yadav’s fervent argument that the malpractices are hampering the technical education system of India
• The court, after a brief but thoughtful consideration, also ordered the AICTE to treat the petition as a representation.
• The petitioner argued that the present scenario of unemployable students coming out of private colleges is a direct result of unmotivated professors who are at the mercy of their managements

Allegations

• Mr Yadav, alleged that Private engineering colleges are in the practice of confiscating the original degrees and certificates of the recruited staff, withholding the salaries of the faculty/staff for months with an intention to blackmail and harass the staff.
•  Colleges do not maintain the required student-staff ratio during entire terms. Another malpractice is the appointment of fake faculty at the time inspections for affiliation,” Mr. Yadav argued.
• The plea urged for setting up of a directorate or panel to redress the grievances of staff working in private engineering colleges.