PIL Filed in Delhi HC Regarding Exploitation of Educators in Engineering Colleges
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Synopsis
A public interest litigation has been filed in the Delhi High Court addressing the exploitation of teaching staff in private engineering colleges, highlighting issues like unpaid salaries and excessive working hours.
Key Takeaways
- PIL filed against exploitation of engineering faculty.
- V.V. Giri National Labour Institute report cited.
- AICTE ordered to address faculty exploitation.
- Faculty lacks basic rights like salary slips.
- Call for increased investment in technical education.
New Delhi, April 11 (NationPress) A public interest litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Delhi High Court addressing the “exploitation” of teaching personnel in private engineering colleges.
The petition references a report from the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute, which revealed that a significant percentage of faculty are subjected to exploitation, receiving less than the mandated minimum salary (AICTE Pay Scale), lacking salary slips, enduring excessive working hours, and facing coercive retention of their original documents.
In July 2024, the Delhi High Court mandated the AICTE to consider a previous writ petition on this matter as a formal representation aimed at enforcing AICTE regulations, instructing a prompt resolution through a detailed order in line with legal protocols.
In its response, the AICTE, as noted in the latest petition, has declined to implement necessary actions against the exploitation of approximately one hundred thousand faculty members in private engineering colleges, asserting that it cannot intervene in the daily operational affairs of these technical institutions.
The petition, submitted by advocate Nandini Sharma, emphasized that it is the responsibility of the AICTE to undertake appropriate measures for the cohesive and integrated advancement of technical education and to uphold standards, possessing the authority to inspect any department of a technical institute or university with punitive powers under the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987, and the AICTE (Grant of Approvals for Technical Institutions) Regulations, 2020.
It further noted that the AICTE has established the All India Council for Technical Education Pay Scales, Service Conditions, and Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff-(Degree) Regulation, 2019, to provide the 7th Pay Scale for faculty in technical institutions, along with other benefits such as increments, promotions, health insurance, pensions, leave, training, and incentives. However, the AICTE has refused to intervene in the operations of technical institutions, even when they violate AICTE norms and standards.
In addition to enforcing AICTE regulations faithfully, the petition demands an increase in investment in technical education to address the needs of a vast nation like India. This includes proposals for expanding the number of engineering seats, hiring adequate faculty, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering research and development in engineering colleges.
