According to Prof. Ram Yadav, a former Mechanical Engineering teacher at ARMIET, the college has reportedly violated AICTE regulations by failing to provide adequate laboratory facilities and fully furnished classrooms. Furthermore, the college is accused of charging exorbitant fees while not providing sufficient facilities to many rural students.
Mumbai: The Alamuri Ratnamala Institute of Engineering and Technology (ARMIET) in Thane is under scrutiny for reportedly charging exorbitant fees to approximately 6,000 students, as confirmed by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE). Shockingly, the DTE reports also suggest that ARMIET had allegedly submitted false affidavits to increase their fees, further complicating the issue. The engineering institute’s reputation has taken a hit as it faces severe backlash from students and parents who feel cheated and misled.
The ongoing investigation into the fee fraud at ARMIET has taken a new turn, as the Maharashtra Fee Regulation Authority (FRA) has been brought in to scrutinize the excessive overhead fee charged by the institution. The FRA, established in 2015, takes into account several factors, including the number of students, teachers, and institutional expenditures, to determine a reasonable fee for the courses offered by the institution. However, it has been alleged that ARMIET submitted false data to the FRA to manipulate the fee amount. Adding to the complexity of the situation, the report also highlights that ARMIET has deposited the student fees into bank accounts that do not belong to the institution. These shocking revelations have triggered outrage among students and parents alike, who are now demanding strict action against the engineering college.
Despite several attempts by students to bring attention to the fee fraud at ARMIET, government authorities have not taken any action, leaving thousands of students and parents feeling cheated. In a recent development, students who have recently graduated from the engineering college have written to the concerned government authorities, attaching their fee receipts to the email, but to no avail. According to one student who finished her B.E. at ARMIET in 2020, they only found out about the fraudulence after graduating and receiving information via their college Whatsapp group. The students are now hoping to get their money back.
In addition to the fee fraud, ARMIET is also accused of flouting AICTE norms for good laboratory facilities and fully furnished classrooms. A former Mechanical Engineering teacher at the institute, Prof. Ram Yadav, has stated that the college charges excessive fees while failing to provide adequate facilities to several rural students.
An investigation into the problems at ARMIET began in 2022, but neither the DTE nor FRA has announced a conclusive decision. Meanwhile, the college continues to charge students with excessive fees, causing frustration among the affected students and parents. Pramod Naik, Joint Director of DTE, explained the delay, stating that a report containing all the allegations against ARMIET has been filed and submitted to the DTE seniors and the FRA, who will act as the decision-makers in this case.
In response to the allegations made by the students, Alamuri Venkateshwara Gupta, Chairman of ARMIET, dismissed their claims, stating that the DTE, FRA, and the college have taken cognizance of the matter. He further added that these complaints are largely politically motivated, and students should bring their concerns to the administration instead of resorting to such measures.
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