The Delhi High Court has held that management institutes are free to admit students from any national entrance test and quashed the notification issued by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The AICTE had ordered that the managements of unaided professional education institutes should not admit those students who have not cleared the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) for MBA and similar courses.
In a press statement, the president of Federation of Associations of Managements of Unaided Professional Educational Institutions in India (FAMPEI), G P C Nair said the judgment brings succour to lakhs of students and also business schools.
“On account of the AICTE’s insistence that MBA admissions should be done only from CMAT-qualified students, lakhs of students could not take admission in 2013-14. Business schools had not even 25 per cent enrolment last year on account of the decision. The Delhi High Court order is a major relief for students and managements,” Nair said.
The High Court passed the order while allowing an appeal by the FAMPEI against a Single Bench order.
The FAMPEI contended that MBA course is not a technical course within the definition of the AICTE Act, hence AICTE has no right to regulate or control MBA courses being conducted by members of the Federation.
It also pointed out that the regulations were not placed before Parliament.
Considering the submissions, the Bench held that the AICTE had no authority or power to issue the regulation and the consequential notification.