Arrest of "Jeppiaar” in connection with the death of 10
Arrest of "Jeppiaar” in connection with the death of 10 migrant workers on the premises of Jeppiaar Institute of Technology indicates that the Tamilnadu government is letting the law to have its own course. He is one of those responsible for commercialisation engineering education. At present, he owns over a dozen engineering colleges, and many polytechnic colleges and some institutes of Management studies, besides a deemed university. Most of these institutions run by him are built without proper plan permits. He has in fact encroached upon land belonging to government, religious bodies and even the public by using his political clout and started so many institutions. He is also one of those responsible for making AICTE and UGC into corrupt bodies. It is unfortunate that the AICTE has granted permission to this college even before the construction of adequate buildings with sufficient class rooms, labs and other facilities. Corruption is the root cause for AICTE granting the permission. When so many engineering institutions are not able to fill the sanctioned strength, what is the necessity for him to open another ill-equipped college? It is incomprehensible to note that how AICTE grant permission to start so many colleges by one individual/family under one trust or different trusts. Moreover he is running these institutions in an undemocratic manner using muscle power. Most of the students in these institutions are from outside Tamilnadu. He has developed a network of agents all over the country, who are paid substantial amount as commission. But after admission these innocent students are fleeced, intimidated and ill-treated. Money is the only criteria in all his institutions. The government should appoint a committee to review the functioning of these institutions and find out the extent encroachment of public and private land and take suitable action.Dr. C. Murukadas, The Times of India, 11 Aug, 2012