Coimbatore: The Association of University Teachers (AUT), Tamil Nadu, has raised a red flag over the state govt’s move to reconsider land requirement norms for private arts and science colleges.The association expressed serious concerns over a govt proposal to reduce land requirements for private arts and science colleges. In a letter to the higher education secretary, it described the move that seeks to slash campus size from 3, 5 and 10 acres to 2, 3 and 5 acres in metro, municipal and panchayat areas as a “seemingly innocuous” request with potential commercial motives. AUT general secretary Dr K Raja said the proposal, which aims to align older colleges established prior to the academic year 2014-2015, is a calculated attempt to allow institutions to divert “surplus land” for unspecified non-educational purposes. He questioned why such a significant legal proposal regarding the alienation of college property was being considered without invoking the Tamil Nadu Private Colleges Regulation (TNPCR) Act, 1976. AUT argued that the current minimum land requirements of 3, 5 and 10 acres is essential for future expansion, noting that student strength and infrastructure need to grow over time. It said the land parcels donated by philanthropists for education should not be utilized for commercial gain. Citing recent court rulings that protected temple land from being used for self-financing streams, AUT urged the govt to ensure that “spacious campus ambience” of existing colleges remained undisturbed by commercial interests. The association said any property alienation should strictly follow the provisions of TNPCR Act to protect the integrity of educational institutions.
