Alleging gross violation of norms by certain engineering colleges, members of Andhra Pradesh Technical and Professional Institutional Employees Association (APTPIEA) have appealed to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to inspect these institutions and initiate stringent action against the erring ones.

In a letter addressed to the NAAC Chairman Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, association president M.V. Bramhananda Reddy said there were numerous complaints against certain engineering colleges which were functioning in violation of the norms laid down by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and NAAC.

He said Universal College of Engineering and Technology, Newton Institute of Science and Technology and AM Reddy College of Engineering, all in Guntur district, were some of the institutions that faced allegations of non-maintenance of faculty-student ratio, lack of proper lab equipment and infrastructure, and resorting to unethical practices such as granting free attendance to students without proper evaluation.

He said M. Koti Reddy, who was serving as the Principal of Universal College of Engineering and Technology, was simultaneously pursuing M. Tech. (CSE) regular course in the same institution. “There are other serious allegations regarding the authenticity of his PhD degree,” said Mr. Bramhanand Reddy.

He said despite several complaints lodged with AICTE and those at the helm of JNTU-Kakinada, no action had been taken so far.

He urged the NAAC to conduct inspections of these colleges and curb the irregularities.