Date:22/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/22/stories/2008052258150800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

AICTE approves pharmacy ‘heads’ without verification

BVS Bhaskar

Bloomers galore on the website of AICTE

Some principals named heads of more than one institution while some are living abroad
Name of a deceased person given green signal for the post of principal

RAJAHMUNDRY: The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has apparently given a go-by to the required qualifications in approving the candidatures of principals for pharmacy colleges for 2008-09.

The bloomers in the list of institutions, the sanctioned intake of students and details of principals seem to be endless, for some principals are found to have been named heads of more than one institution and some are living abroad. And, in a classic case, the name of a deceased person was given green signal for the post of principal. The list published in the council’s website, www.aicte.ernet.in, exposes all this information.

For instance, K.P.R. Chowdary, principal of Andhra University College of Pharmacy and member of AICTE’s southern regional committee, was also shown as principal of Viswabharati Pharmacy College in Guntur. When contacted, he said that he informed the AICTE about the goof-up. He said that there were flaws in according permission to some pharmacy colleges.

G. Prabhakar, who is no more, is listed as principal of Sri Sai Aditya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peddapuram in East Godavari district. There are 23 other principals who are listed as heads of three to four colleges.

The State has the highest number of pharmacy colleges -- 219 against 80 till last year.

The council’s norms suggest that a person should have a Ph.D in a relevant branch of specialisation in pharmacy with a minimum experience of 10 years in the field of teaching/industry/research, of which 5 years must be at the level of an assistant professor or equivalent, to become a principal. But some colleges have principals with M.Tech and M.Sc as the main degrees supported by doctorates.

The council’s list suggests that J. Prem Kumar, working in Nimra College of Pharmacy, Vijayawada, as principal is actually working in USA. K. Kasi Viswanath of Safa College of Pharmacy is doing his doctoral degree in Pharmacy in USA.

At this rate, most colleges may not be given permission by the Pharmacy Council of India at the end of three years.