FORMATION AND WORK OF THE REVIEWING COMMITTEE
0.1. Following the decisions of the Government of India taken in 1958 and 1960, 14 Regional Engineering Colleges were established, one in each of the major States, during the period 1959-1964. One more (15th) in Silchar (Assam) is under establishment. With a view to (a) assessing the financial requirements of the R. E. Cs. during the latter part of the 4th Plan period and in future, and (b) finding ways of distributing responsibilities between Central and State Governments for funding the R. E. Cs., the Planning Commission discussed the subject with officers of the Ministry of Education at a meeting held on 16th February, 1971.
0.2. At that meeting of the Planning Commission, it was decided that the Ministry of Education might constitute a high powered committee to consider the question of the future set-up of the Regional Engineering Colleges and the pattern of their financing from central and state resources. This committee should inter-alia consider the question of affiliation of the Regional Engineering Colleges to the Zonal Institutes of Technology, and other academic and administrative matters pertaining to the scheme, like the recruitment of staff and their inter-changeability amongst different institutions. Accordingly, the Ministry of Education appointed a Committee, vide their letter No. F. 19-33/71-T. 4, with the following composition and terms of reference :-
Composition : 1. Dr. Jai Krishna, Chairman Vice-Chancellor, Roorkee University.
2. Prof. P. J. Madan, Member Pro-Vice-Chancellor, M.S. University, Baroda.
3. Prof. N. C. Saha, " Principal, College of Engineering, Aligarh University, Aligarh.
4. Prof. R.G.Narayanamurti, Member Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
5. Prof. D. Y. Phadke, " Professor of Electronics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay.
6. Prof. Moonis Raza, " Professor of Geography, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
7. Shri O. P. Mohla, " Deputy Financial Adviser (Education), Ministry of Finance, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi.
8. Shri K. B. Sivaramakrishnan, " Education Division, Planning Commission, Yojana Bhavan, New Delhi.
9. Prof. E. C. Subbarao, " Professor of Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.
10. Dr. M. G. Krishna, " Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehra Dun.
11. Shri D. V. Narasimhem, Member-Secretary Dy. Educational Adviser (T), Ministry of Education & S. W., New Delhi.
Terms of Reference : (a) To visit the Regional Engineering Colleges and report on their present stage of establishment and development. including courses of study and
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standard faculty, admissions and other instructional facilities.
(b) To report on the present organisational and administrative structures of the Regional Engineering Colleges vis-a-vis the aims and objects for which the colleges have been established.
(c) To recommend the future set up of the colleges, including pattern of financing from Central and State resources to ensure their functioning as all-India institutions of High quality and standard.
(d) To report on the practicability and desirability of affiliating or associating the Regional Engineering Colleges in a suitable manner, with their respective Institutions of Technology for all academic purposes, including exchange of faculty, common courses, etc.
0.3. Working of the Committee: After preliminary discussions by the Chairman of the Committee in the Ministry of Education, the visits to the Colleges commenced in April, 1972. The Committee visited all the colleges and the last visit was on 19-9-73. Dr. Krishna and Prof. Subbarao visited only those R. E. Cs. that had Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering departments respectively. During visits to the colleges, members went round all the departments and assessed their present stage of development. The committee had discussions with members of the Boards of Governors, State Government representatives, teaching and non- teaching staff associations and representatives of student bodies, on various issues covered in the Terms of Reference, concerning progress, development, management and future of the colleges. All R. E. Cs. supplied to the Committee detailed reports on their growth, present state of development and future needs and also additional information when required by the Committee.
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