Question : CORRUPTION IN AICTE

(a) whether cases of corruption/irregularities have been reported from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) during the last three years;

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has taken any action against AICTE officials against whom the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has found concrete evidence;

(d) if so, the details of major or minor penalties imposed against these officials;

(e) whether the CBI has also made the former Chairman, AICTE an accused in the scam and has recommended departmental inquiry against him;

(f) if so, the details thereof;

(g) the action taken by the Government in this regard; and

(h) the steps taken by the Government for fair working of the AICTE?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b) to (d) : The Government had referred the matters to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who has registered 59 cases which are at various stages of investigation.

(e) to (f): Yes, Sir. As per the information and record made available by CBI, following FIRs have been registered against former Chairman :

(i) RC-0722009(E)0006 dated 16.07.2009 (Echelon Institute of Technology, Faridabad)

(ii) RC MAI 2009 A 0056-AC/CHENN dated 30.10.09 (Padmavathi College of Engineering, Chennai)

(iii) CBI/ACB/CHG RCCHG2010 A 0021 dated 02.09.2010 (Kalpana Chawla Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, Punjab)

(g) : A Departmental enquiry is underway.

(h) : AICTE has undertaken various steps for good governance for fair working of the AICTE including administrative, procedural, organizational and policy reforms for incorporating better transparency, integration of entire eco system, institute-to-learner, learner-to- administrator and administrator-to-policy. The various reforms introduced during the last three years are as under:-

(i) AICTE has introduced reforms in strengthening of office procedures and improving security measures and introduction of e-governance for enhanced transparency, clarity, easy and assured communications.

(ii) An internal Audit Cell for finance as well as performance audit has been set up for continuous appraisal.

(iii) The digitization of records is being implemented.

(iv) A Standing Committee under retired justice of high court has been constituted for examining Vigilance matters.

(v) The approval process has been made an online process through its web portal www.aicte-india.org. The details are placed into public domain.

(vi) A faculty of tracking of application by application has been introduced.