Goa University restores affiliation of Sulcorna agriculture college with conditions

PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa disposed of the plea filed by Don Bosco College of Agriculture after Goa University (GU) decided to grant continuation of affiliation to the first year BSc agriculture (hons) degree programme of the Sulcorna-based college for the academic year 2021-22, subject to two conditions.
“The college shall obtain an undertaking from the students being admitted that they are aware that the college presently does not have accreditation from ICAR and essential condition and suggestion laid down by the affiliation inquiry committee in the last AIC report needs to be complied especially with regards to the appointment of teachers,” stated the assistant registrar academics of GU in a communication dated September 8.

The communication from the university came after the college knocked on the doors of the high court challenging GU’s withdrawal of affiliation to its BSc (Hons) agricultural programme for the academic year 2021-22 on the eve of fresh admissions.
The communication came after the chairman of the college stated that they would withdraw the writ petition they filed against the university in high court. The college submitted to the court that they were not given an opportunity to be heard before the affiliation to them was withdrawn.
GU on March 12 stated that due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided to grant continuation of affiliation to all programmes. “Consequently, your college has been granted continuation of affiliation for BSc agricultural programme for the academic year 2021-22 . Please note that your college shall need to apply for continuation of affiliation for the academic year 2022-23 as and when applications are invited for seeking affiliation for the academic year 2022-23".
Based on a letter of ICAR, GU withdrew affiliation on July 31 without giving the college an opportunity to be heard. ICAR surprisingly issued a letter on March 2 to GU’s vice chancellor informing that its National Agricultural Education Board, in its 27th meeting of the national agricultural education accreditation board held on Feb 24, 2021 did not consider the college’s BSC honours agriculture programme for accreditation.
Counsel representing the college Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira had submitted to the court that ICAR is a society and a non-statutory body and that its accreditation is voluntary.