In a significant legal development from Ranchi, the Jharkhand High Court has imposed a stay on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe concerning the alleged roles of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Jharkhand University of Technology (JUT) in barring students from the Dhanbad Institute of Technology (DIT) from appearing in their examinations.
Court Order and Background
A division bench comprising Chief Justice M S Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar issued this order on Thursday while hearing an appeal filed by the state government and JUT. This appeal challenged a previous ruling by a single judge of the high court, delivered on January 13 of this year, which had directed the CBI to initiate an investigation into the matter.
Origins of the Case
The controversy stems from a petition filed by the Dhanbad Institute of Technology (DIT), whose students were denied permission by JUT to sit for their institute's examinations. Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan presented arguments before the single judge, Justice Rajesh Kumar, highlighting that DIT was authorized to admit only 60 students as of September 9, 2025, but had instead enrolled 138 students, thereby violating established norms.
Consequently, students admitted beyond the sanctioned limit were prohibited from taking their exams. DIT contested this decision before the single judge, leading to a judicial review of the actions taken by JUT and AICTE.
Judicial Observations and Initial Ruling
Justice Rajesh Kumar, in his earlier judgment, expressed grave concern over the situation. He observed that JUT's refusal to allow DIT students to appear for examinations, after having accepted their admissions, amounted to playing with their futures. This critical assessment prompted the judge to order a CBI probe into the roles of both AICTE and JUT in the case, aiming to uncover any potential misconduct or procedural lapses.
Current Status and Future Proceedings
With the division bench's stay on the CBI investigation, the legal proceedings have entered a new phase. The bench has scheduled the next hearing for January 29, where further arguments and evidence will be presented. This stay temporarily halts the investigative process, pending a thorough review of the appeal's merits and the broader implications for the involved educational institutions and students.
The case underscores ongoing challenges in India's technical education sector, particularly regarding adherence to admission norms and the protection of students' academic rights. As the matter unfolds, stakeholders await clarity on the responsibilities of regulatory bodies like AICTE and affiliating universities such as JUT in ensuring fair practices.
