(1) The Council shall have a Secretary who shall be appointed Staff of by the State Government. Council.
(2) The Council may appoint from time to time officers (other than Secretary) and other employees with the previous approval of the State Government and in accordance with such guidelines as may be prescribed.
(3) The classification and methods of recruitment, conditions of service, pay and allowances, disciplinary conduct and functions and responsibilities of the officers and other employees referred to in subsection (2) shall be such as may be provided by regulations.
(4) Subject to the general control and supervision of the Vice- Chairman, the Secretary shall be the principal administrative officer of the Council. He shall be entitled to attend and speak at any meeting of the Council and shall also be entitled to vote.
13. All orders and decisions of the Council shall be authenticated by the signature of the Chairman or any other member authorised by the Council in this behalf, and all other instruments issued by the Council shall be authenticated by the signature of the Secretary or any other officer of the Council authorised in the like manner in this behalf.
Authentication of orders and other instruments of Council.
14. Such members of the Council or of any committee, sub-committee Travelling or board constituted under this Act as are not in the service of the State allowance.
Government shall, in respect of expenses incurred by them in attending meetings of the Council or of any such committee, sub-committee or board or in exercising any powers or performing any duties conferred or imposed upon them by or under this Act, be paid by the Council such allowances, and at such rates, as may be prescribed.
305 The West Bengal State Council of Technical Education Act, 1995.
[West Ben. Act (Chapter 111.—Powers and functions of the Council.—Section 15.)
CHAPTER III Powers and functions of the Council.
Powers and 15. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council shall functions of Council. perform the following functions:—
(i) to undertake survey in various fields of technical education, collect data on all related matters and make forecast of required growth and development in technical education;
(ii) to co-ordinate development of technical education in West Bengal at all levels;
(iii) to promote innovation, research and development in established and new technologies, and generation, adoption and adaptation of new technologies to meet development requirements for overall improvement of educational processes;
(iv) to formulate schemes for promoting technical education for women, handicapped and weaker sections of the society;
(v) to promote an effective link between technical education system and other relevant systems including research and development organisations, industry and community;
(vi) to evolve suitable performance appraisal systems for technical institutions imparting technical education, incorporating norms and mechanisms for enforcing accountability;
(vii) to formulate schemes for initial and in-service training of teachers and identify institutions or centres, and set up new centres for staff development programmes including continuing education of teachers;
(viii) to lay down norms and standards for courses, curricula, physical and instructional facilities, staff pattern, staff qualifiactions, quality instructions, assessment and examinations;
(ix) to take all necessary steps to prevent commercialisation of technical institutions;
(x) to provide guidelines for admission of students to technical institutions;
(xi) to inspect or cause inspection of any technical institution;
(xii) to formulate proposals for strengthening existing organisations, and to set up new organisations, to ensure effective discharge of the Council's responsibilities;
306 The West Bengal State Council of Technical Education Act, 1995.
XXI of 1995.]
(Chapter 111.—Powers and functions of the Council.—Section 15.)
• (xiii) to set up a State Board of Accreditation, to periodically conduct examination of technical institutions on performances on the basis of guidelines, norms and standards specified by the All-India Council of Technical Education and to make necessary recommendation for appropriate action in this regard;
(xiv) to conduct examinations for the promotion of students belonging to recognised polytechnics or institutions from lower to higher classes, and also to conduct final diploma and post-diploma examinations;
(xv) to arrange for the publication of results of examinations and for the grant of certificates and deplomas to students who have satisfactorily completed the course of study in any recognised polytechnic or institution and have passed the examinations conducted for the purpose;
(xvi) to advise the State Government on all matters relating to technical education and training in West Bengal;
(xvii) to institute and award fellowships (including travelling fellowship), scholarships and studentships, and to award prizes and distinction certificate;
(xviii) to exercise disciplinary jurisdiction over the students with regard to any matter pertaining to the conduct of examination for award of certificates or diplomas;
(xix) to co-operate and collaborate, in such manner as it may deem fit, with any body or authority established under any law of the State Legislature or Parliament in promoting general or higher secondary education or education in agriculture, art, commerce or medicine or in any vocational education;
(xx) to administer the Fund;
(xxi) to institute and administer such Provident Fund of the staff of the Council as may be prescribed;
(xxii) to make rules and bye-laws relating to conduct, discipline and appeal in respect of the members of the staff of the Council;
(xxiii) to allow transfer of students from one polytechnic to another;
(xxiv) to delegate, by notification, to any recognised polytechnic or institution such of its powers, and on such conditions, as it may think fit;
307 The West Bengal State Council of Technical Education Act, 1995.
Powers and functions of Vice- Chairman.
[West Ben. Act (Chapter 111—Powers and functions of the Council.—Section 16.)
(xxv) to exercise such other powers, and to perform such other functions, as may be assigned to it by the State Government under this Act for carrying out purposes of this Act;
(xxvi) to provide by regulations, after considering the recommendations of the examination committee, if any, the rates of remuneration to be paid to the paper-setters, moderators, tabulators, examiners, invigilators, supervisors and other employed in connection with the examinations instituted by the Council, and the fees to be paid by the candidates for such examinations;
(xxvii) to grant or refuse permission to candidates to appear at examinations instituted by the Council-and to withdraw such permission, if it thinks fit, in accordance with such regulations as may be made in this behalf;
(xxviii) to provide by regulations the procedure for filing and disposal of appeals by the members of the teaching and non-teaching staff against the decision of the managing committee of recognised polytechnics or institutions.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Council shall have the power to make regulations in respect of any matter for the proper exercise of its powers under this Act.
(3) No regulation shall be valid unless it is approved by the State Government, and the State Government may, while according such approval, make such additions, alterations or modifications therein as it thinks fit:
Provided that before making such additions, alterations or modifications, the State Government shall give the Council an opportunity to express its views thereon within such period, not exceeding one month, • as may be specified by the State Government.
(4) All regulations approved by the State Government shall be published in the Official Gazette.