New Delhi:  All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the regulator for technical and professional education in India, issued a notification directing all institutes to not ask for fee payment till the corona virus lockdown is lifted.

In another step, AICTE directed educational institutes can neither cut salary of faculty and staff members nor  terminate from services during the  corona virus lockdown.

AICTE asked colleges/institutes should not insist on payment of fees till the coronavirus affected lockdown is lifted and normalcy restored.

The regulator warned that stringent action will be taken against institutions for violating guidelines issued during national lockdown.

AICTE observed “Certain institutions have terminated the services of certain faculty/staff members. lt is clarified that salary and other dues to the faculty/staff members will be released for the duration of lockdown and also terminations, if any, made during the lockdown will be withdrawn. Hence, the same may be strictly complied with.”