Powers and functions of the Council.

(1) The Council shall have the following powers and functions, namely:-(a) to specify the minimum standards and guidelines for imparting agricultural education and training to be followed by the colleges/ universities in the State; (b) to regulate the agricultural education in the State through grant of recognition to colleges/ institutions/ departments that meet the norms and standards prescribed to run educational degree programmes in agriculture. On the grant of recognition, the recognized colleges/ institutions/ departments shall automatically follow the prescribed system of education and governance including infrastructure (class rooms, laboratories, equipment, instructional farms, etc); procedure of admission, recruitment of staff, resident instruction, course curricula, pattern of examination etc as may be directed by the Council from time to time; (c) to grant approval to the annual academic plans/schemes of the recognized colleges/institutions/departments; (d) to review from time to time, the work done in the colleges/ institutions/departments relating to agricultural education to achieve effective coordination in the activities of the recognized colleges/ institutions/ departments of the concerned universities and give them suitable guidance and directions; (e) to ensure sustained quality assurance in agricultural education in the State through grant of accreditation to the recognized colleges; (f) to issue necessary directions, in the exercise of its powers and the discharge of its functions, to the concerned colleges/institutions/ departments under intimation to the Vice-Chancellor/s of the concerned University/ies, which shall be final and binding on them. It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chancellors/Deans/Principals concerned to ensure that such directions are promptly and properly implemented; (g) to exercise such other powers and to discharge such other functions as are incidental or requisite to give effect to the provisions of this Act as per decision of the Government related to agricultural education; (h) to advise the Government on any matter related to the activities of the concerned universities/colleges/ institutions on agricultural education; (i) to review from time to time the procedures laid down to discharge its functions; (j) to co-ordinate and maintain standards of agricultural education and to effect re-orientation of such education on the specified lines so as to serve the needs of farmers and agro-industry and promote co-operation amongst the institutions and industrial and commercial establishment; (k) to co-operate with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other bodies in such manner and for such purposes, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act; (l) to undertake all other such acts and deeds as may be necessary for proper discharge of functions under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder ; (m) to carry out such duties as may be imposed on it under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder.; (n) to refuse to affiliate an institution which, - (i) does not fulfil or is unable to fulfil the standards laid down by the Council for staff, instructions, equipment and buildings; or (ii) does not abide by the conditions for affiliation laid down by the Council: Provided that the affiliation to an institution shall not be refused without giving it a reasonable opportunity of being heard and without passing an order in writing and after recording reasons thereof; (o) to withdraw affiliation of an institution which is unable to adhere to or make a provision for standards of staff, instructions, equipment or buildings as laid down by the Council or on its failure to observe the conditions of affiliation to the satisfaction of the Council : Provided that affiliation of an institution shall not be withdrawn without giving it a reasonable opportunity of being heard and without passing an order in writing by recording reasons thereof; (p) to call reports from Heads of the affiliated institutions in respect of any act done in contravention of the rules, regulations, decisions, instructions or directions of the Council in such manner, as may be specified ; (q) to inspect or cause to be inspected an affiliated institution for the purpose of ensuring due observance of the specified courses of study and to ensure that the facilities for instructions are duly provided for and availed of ; (r) to create technical, professional, administrative, ministerial and other posts required for the performance of its duties and responsibilities and to appoint persons to such posts ; (s) to borrow money for carrying out the purposes of this Act with the prior approval of the Government; (t) to recommend to the Government regarding introduction of new courses and development of appropriate curricula in connection therewith ; (u) to provide guidelines for granting academic autonomy to institutions of agricultural education and grant academic autonomy to such institutions, as it may consider necessary; (v) to review norms and guidelines for charging tuition and other fees by the colleges in order to prevent commercialization of agricultural education and training; (w) to refer any question arising in the courses of exercise of its powers or in the discharge of its duties and functions under this Act to any appropriate Committee constituted under section 7 and consider the committee’s recommendations or suggestions thereon; and (x) to delegate by order such of its powers subject to such conditions, as it may consider necessary to any affiliated institution or other authority constituted under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder. (2) The Council shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, have all such powers as may be necessary for the discharge of its functions and the performance of its duties under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder.