C O U N C I L
N E W S 2
FEBRUARY 2022
CONSERVATION Rejuvenation of Historical Cities: Kashisaar
SOCIAL Fifty Years of Manthan Walk for Arcause Commences
NOTIFICATIONS Application Deadline for Schools Extended
Editor: Habeeb Khan Publisher : Raj K. Oberoi A. Editor: Pranati Satti Design: Himanshu Agrawal, Darshi Kapadia
COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURE'S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Cover Photograph: Annie Spratt
ISSUE 2
2
• I S S U E •
Dear Friends, One of the most enduring achievements of Indian civilization is undoubtedly its architecture. Indian architecture, which has evolved through centuries, is the result of socio-economic and geographical conditions. Different types of Indian architectural styles include a mass of expressions over space and time, transformed by the forces of history considered unique to India. As a result of vast diversities, a vast range of architectural specimens have evolved, retaining a certain amount of continuity across history. From caves, temples, mosques to palaces and stupas, India boast about its architecture diversity like no other country in the world. This incredibly rich heritage has developed over nearly 4000 years, during which time India absorbed many different political, religious and artistic influences. It is our responsibility that apart from taking pride in our heritage, we should take steps to protect it and learn from its wisdom. We should carry the legacy forward and leave similar footprints for the children of the future. I am glad to pen down that the Council of Architecture had come up with its second newsletter in e-format and I would also like to thank all of you for your overwhelming response to revival issue of our Newsletter. We are continuously working for the development of Architectural fraternity and this edition will help you to understand the architecture fraternity in a better way and you will get aware of many developments we are doing. This Newsletter has covered various important information related to Architectural Education and profession which will help in creating awareness about Architectural Education and to promote research & innovation in Architecture and artifacts. I hope you will find this publication with useful information on various activities initiated by COA. Together we can bring about a change!
Ar. Habeeb Khan
P R E S I D E N T ' S
N O T E
Council’s Scholarships Scheme for Economically Distressed Students
THE COUNCIL THIS MONTH
New Members of the Council The Council has received the following fresh nominations/renominations from the Central/ State Governments/Authorities:
Nominee of Ministry of Defence Nominee of State of Gujarat
Ar Anuradha Bali
Ar Vishal Arunkumar Vyas
76th Meeting of COA The 76th Meeting of the Council of Architecture is scheduled to be held on 26 February 2022 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The Meeting will be held in hybrid mode.
Public Juries for Council Thesis Awards 2022 Thesis Awards will be held by the Council of Architecture in February 2022. Online evaluation of the entries received under the following categories is complete: National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis and JK AYA Best Architecture Student of the Year (2 Categories) National Awards for Excellence in Post Graduate Thesis in Architecture Students’ Awards for Excellence in Documentation of Architectural Heritage (3 Categories) Public juries for shortlisted entries will commence online from 9 February 2022, and will be streamed live on Facebook.
The Council of Architecture has decided to grant scholarships to needy and economically distressed students who have lost their earning family members so that their education does not suffer as a consequence. A Sub-Committee has been constituted by the Council to frame modalities, including eligibility criteria, payment mode and beneficiary selections.
Application Deadline for Schools Extended Due to the pandemic and subsequent restrictions in various parts of the country, the Competent authority of the Council has decided to extend the application submission date for the extension of approval till 21st February 2022. The last date for submission of applications with penalty is 28th February 2022. The revised academic calendar is available on the Council's website.
AMENDMENTS +NOTIFICATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS. EXTENSIONS 2
SC Judgement on the Power of Council to Prescribe Norms and Standards The Council filed an SLP against the Order of Hon’ble Madras High Court dated 04.06.2009 in the matter Council of Architecture v/s The Academic Society OF Architects (TASA) & ORS., held as under: Further, Section 21 of the Architects Act gives power to the Council of Architecture to prescribe the minimum standards of architectural education required for granting recognized qualifications by colleges or institutions in India and such prescription of the Regulations cannot be done independently by the first Respondent – Council of Architecture. Thus, the Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations are to be brought into force only by way of due approval of the same by the Central Government and issuance of the same in the official gazette of Union of India as provided under section 45 of the Act. In the absence of the such approval by the Central Government, the said “Minimum Standards of Architectural Education Regulations, 2017”, do not have any statutory force and they cannot be implemented. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide its judgement dated 14.02.2022 has held as under : To put it differently, Section 22(1) confers power upon the Council of Architecture to prescribe standards of professional conduct and a code of ethics, only by way of regulations, though Section 45(2)(i) takes care of the procedural requirement. But Section 21 which confers substantive power upon the Council to prescribe minimum standards of architectural education, is not couched in the same language as Section 22(1). In other words, Section 21 does not contain a stipulation that, “the Council may by COUNCIL NEWS
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regulation prescribe minimum standards of architectural education”. The words “may by regulation”, found in Section 22, are conspicuous by their absence in Section 21. This is a clear indication of the fact, (i) that the Council is empowered to prescribe minimum standards of architectural education, not necessarily by taking recourse to Section 45(2); and (ii) that if at all, such minimum standards are issued otherwise than through Regulations, they should not be in conflict with those found in the Regulations. 15.It is thus clear from the scheme of the Act that the Council of Architecture may prescribe minimum standards of architectural education, either by way of regulations issued under Section 45(2) or even otherwise. It is only in cases where the Council chooses to prescribe standards in the form of regulations that the requirement of approval of the Central Government under Section 45(1) would become necessary. 17. In the counter affidavit filed by the appellant before the High Court, a specific objection was taken to the maintainability of the writ petition on the ground that the communications impugned in the writ petition were addressed to the institutions imparting architectural education and that individuals who claim to be teaching faculty cannot challenge the same. It was also contended in the counter affidavit that the 1st respondent (writ petitioner) was attempting to espouse the cause of some defaulting educational institutions which did not meet the minimum standards. Another important issue raised in the counter affidavit filed by the appellant herein before the High Court was that one of the members of the 1st respondent Society was a member of
the appellant Council which approved the 2015 norms and that some of the members of the 1st respondent Society even acted as Inspectors and inspected the educational institutions to find out whether minimum standards are put in place. 18. But the above objections were not even considered by the High Court. The High Court addressed tself merely to the question of the requirement of approval of the Central Government under Section 45(1) and did not go into the question of locus standi of the 1st respondent. The High Court even overlooked the factthat none of the educational institutions imparting architectural education ever chose to challenge the communications impugned before the High Court. In fact, the appellant has furnished a chart extracting the provisions of the 1983 Regulations in Column No.1, the 2017 Prescriptions in Column No.2, andthe area of difference between the two, in Column No.3. It is seen from the said chart that many of the changes brought forthwith in 2018 were in relation to, (i) duration of the architecture programme; (ii) admission to architecture course; (iii) intake and migration; (iv) courses and periods ofstudy; (v) professional examination, standards of proficiency and conditions of admissions and qualifications of examiners; and (vi) standards of staff, equipment, accommodation, training and other facilities.
archite 19. If at all, the 1st respondent‐ society (writ petitioner), due to the nature of its membership, could have been aggrieved only by the prescriptions affecting the teaching faculty. The 1st respondent could not have challenged the prescriptions with which they are not in any way concerned.
Unfortunately, the High Court did not address itself to these important issues.
.The Hon’ble Supreme Court accordingly set aside the order dated
04.06.2019 of Madras High Court and dismissed the petition.
Communication to State Governments for Enforcement of the Architects Act, 1972 10.09.2021
The Hon’ble Governor, State of Jharkhand
Charging Registration fee from Architects to get empaneled with the Municipal corporation/ local bodies to practice architecture and Council has written letter for implementation of the Architect Act, 1972.
02.12.2021
The Chief Secretary, Govt of Uttar Pradesh
Charging Registration fee from Architects to get empaneled with the Municipal corporation/ local bodies to practice architecture and Council has written letter for implementation of the Architect Act, 1972.
06.12.2021
The Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka
Charging Registration fee from Architects to get empaneled with the Municipal corporation/ local bodies to practice architecture and Council has written letter for implementation of the Architect Act, 1972.
02.12.2021
The Chief Secretary, Government of Assam
Charging Registration fee from Architects to get empaneled with the Municipal corporation/ local bodies to practice architecture and Council has written letter for implementation of the Architect Act, 1972.
08.12.2021
The Chief Secretary Government of Uttar Pradesh
Appointment of Non-Architect to the Post of Chief Architect.
The Chief Secretary Government of West Bengal
Charging Registration fee from Architects to get empaneled with the Municipal corporation/ local bodies to practice architecture and Council has written letter for implementation of the Architect Act, 1972.
22.12.2021
The Chief Secretary, PWD, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Appointment of Non-Architect to the Post of Chief Architect.
31.01.2022
The Secretary Public Work Department Government of Madhya Pradesh
Empanelment of Non-Architects as Architect for providing Architectural Services.
31.01.2022
The Secretary Public Work Department Government of Madhya Pradesh
Appointment of Non-Architect to the Post of Chief Architect.
02.02.2022
The Regional Head Union Bank of India Thane, Maharashtra
Expression of Interest for providing Architectural Services.
02.02.2022
Zonal Manager Punjab & Sind Bank Dehradun
Expression of Interest for providing Architectural Services.
13.12.2021
ects act
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COLLABORATION+ EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Conversations on Rejuvenation of Cultural and Historical Cities: Kashisaar The Government of Uttar Pradesh organized a meet for architects at BHU Varanasi, on 3 and 4 January 2022. The Faculty of Architecture and Planning, AKTU, Government of UP hosted the programme in collaboration with Council of Architecture, India. The two-day event featured an inauguration, an academic symposium, a Ganges cruise, and tours of the new Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Sarnath. Dr Neelkanth Tiwari, Honorable Minister of State Tourism & Culture, addressed the inaugural session. Dr Tiwari outlined the commitment of the Uttar Pradesh Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in rejuvenating historic cities throughout the state. An exhibition showcasing the redevelopment and design of the Kashi Corridor curated by Ar Bimal Patel's office and studio work of the students of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning, AKTU, was also inaugurated by Dr Neelkanth Tiwari. COUNCIL NEWS
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kashisa Dr Vineet Kansal, Vice-Chancellor of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, delivered the welcome address. He emphasized the importance of practical application of theoretical knowledge in technical education. Further, he added that more than 750 institutes under the umbrella of AKTU are committed to achieving this cause.
Ar Sapna, Vice President, Council of Architecture, shared her thoughts on the significance of public awareness in heritage conservation.
Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Amrit Abhijat, highlighted that this meet is the first in the series of many to increase the involvement of stakeholders. He reiterated the commitment of the Government to rejuvenate other historic cities like Agra, Ayodhya, Mathura and Vrindavan.
Dr Vandana Sehgal, Dean, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, AKTU, reminisced her experiences of various historical cities that she portrayed through her paintings. During the parikramas, she perceived various tangible and intangible aspects that constitute the soul of these cities.
Dr Amogh Gupta, President Vigyan Bharati Madhya Bharati, opined that daily experiences if documented, become Gyan, and when they are made public, they become Vigyan. Shri Jitin Prasad, Cabinet Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh, gave his greetings and best wishes through a virtual address. Mr Sunil Chowdhary, Special Secretary, Technical Education, gave a vote of thanks to all the dignitaries and the host institutions, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, AKTU and IIT BHU for successfully organizing the event. Prof K. T. Ravindran from the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, spoke at the technical session on the enigma of Indian cities and the problems involved in modernizing them. The representatives of HCP Consultants, the Principal Architect of the prestigious Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, discussed the details, challenges and intricacies involved in the rejuvenation.
aar
Dr Alka Pandey talked about the representation of the concept of Ardhanarishwar in various art forms ranging from paintings to sculptures. Ar J. M. Kartikar from Design Associates presented his works on the rejuvenation of streets leading to Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Prof Rana P. B. Singh enlightened the audience on the historical, cosmological and metaphysical aspects of Varanasi - from the significance of the name 'Banaras' to the relevance of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor to the devotees and the city as a whole. Dr Vandana Sehgal, Dean Faculty of Architecture and Planning, AKTU,
concluded the event by inviting the dignitaries and delegates for a Roro cruise ride to witness Ganga Aarti, followed by a gala dinner and cultural program.
Eminent Architects/ Academicians across the country attended the meet and visited Kashi Vishwanath Corridor the next day, followed by a trip to the Sarnath archaeological site.
Council's International Conference on Architectural Education To promote Indian architectural education globally, the Council has decided to organize the 'Pratyasha' International Summit. Indian Architectural Institutions will showcase their teaching-learning methods at the summit, in turn incorporating best practices from around the world. The summit will bring together eminent architects and academicians in the country to benefit the entire fraternity. 6
INSTITUTIONS COA-TRC Pune Activities
TRAINING
COA-TRC Pune conducted the following online training programs for teachers in architecture and professionals:
+RESEARCH PROGRAMMES
Programme
Coordinator
Dates
Parts
Emerging Pedagogies in Architectural Education
Prof. Joseph John, Principal, KMEA College of Architecture, Kerala
18 to 21 January 2022
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One Day Online Webinars
Rethinking Bamboo in Culture through Design
Bamboo Society of India
COA Awards 2021 The following award programmes were launched Students' Awards for Excellence in Documentation of Architectural Heritage 2021 National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis 2021 and JK AYA Best Architecture Student of the Year 2021 National Awards for Excellence in Post Graduate Thesis in Architecture 2021 Registrations for all categories of all
progr
awards were accepted from all zones. Entries were allocated code numbers. Online evaluation of coded entries by panels of jurors is in process. The activities related to the Awards 2021 in each zone are coordinated by the respective Zonal Centres: Zone 1: Sushant School of Art & Architecture, Gurgaon Zone 2: College of Architecture, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Institute of Technology, At-PO-Vasad, Dist. Anand, Gujarat
15 January 2022
Zone 3: School of Architecture, Symbiosis Skills and Open University, Village Kiwale, Near Pune-Mumbai Expressway, Tal. Haveli, Maharashtra Zone 4: Mysore School of Architecture, CA-01, University Layout, Lingabudi, Near Dattagalli Ring Road, Mysore Zone 5: Asian School of Architecture and Design Innovation, Silver Sand Island, Near Vyttila, Cochin, Kerala
Upcoming programmes of COA TRC Bhopal Programme The Enterprise of Built Environment Perspectives from the Industry ONLINE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM The Programme will be conducted by COA-TRC Bhopal in collaboration with R.V. College of Architecture, Bengaluru. Five Day National Online Faculty Development Program on ‘Quantitative Methods for Qualitative Research in Architecture & Planning’. The programme will be conducted in collaboration with IES College of Architecture, Chittilappily, Thrissur, Kerala COUNCIL NEWS
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Detail 07 to 11 February 2022
07 to 11 March 2022
Energy Conservation Building Code Programmes in February The Council of Architecture in collaboration with the 'Bureau of Energy Efficiency' has been conducting training programs titled ‘Introduction to Energy Conservation Building Code’, for sensitizing and creating awareness about ECBC within practising architects and teachers in schools of architecture. The technical sessions include live case studies of ECBC compliant projects and training on Energy Simulation software.
rammes COA Training and Research Centers conduct these programmes free of cost. The training programmes cover
Introduction to Building Physics ECBC Scope and Administration Building Envelope Building Comfort Systems and Controls Lighting and Controls
Electrical and Renewable Energy Systems ECBC Compliance Procedures Whole Building Performance Approach Energy Simulation
Training Programmes Scheduled in February 2022 ‘Post-Pandemic Architecture’, conducted in collaboration with
Symbiosis School of Planning, Architecture and Design, by Dr Nandini Kulkarni from 15 to 18 February 2022. ‘Ecological Landscape Planning’ in collaboration with BMS College of Architecture, Basavanagudi, Bangalore, by Dr Mamatha P. Raj from 22 to 25 February 2022.
Upcoming Design Competition for COA-TRC Bengaluru The Council has been allocated two acres of land by the Government of Karnataka at Jnana Bharati Campus of University Bangalore for setting up its Training and Research Centre.
The Council of Architecture has setup a committee to prepare a competition dossier for the design of the COA-TRC office building.
After preparing site technical specifications and finalising building requirements, the committee will decide on the type, brief, process, and timeline of the competition.
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SOCIAL OUTREACH, PUBLICATIONS + ONLINE INITIATIVES
Fifty years of "Manthan" COA Reads Prof Jaimini Mehta in dialogue with Durganand Balsavar Prof Jaimini Mehta is a practicing architect and an independent academic based in Baroda, India. He studied architecture at M.S. University of Baroda, graduating with Prof M.B. Dave Gold Medal and at Uni. of Pennsylvania (Honors) in the Studio taught by Louis Kahn in 1965. He went on to work in the offices of Louis Kahn and Mitchell / Giurgola Asso. in Philadelphia and New York before setting up his own practice in India in 1975. His architectural work has been exhibited in Mumbai, New York, Baroda and Ahmedabad. He contributes regularly in the ongoing discourse on architecture through articles and books published in India as well as abroad. In 2018 he won the JK Architect of the Year award in the category of Literary Architecture. Prof Durganand Balsavar represented COAReads in a livestreamed discussion with Prof Jaimini Mehta on the theme Fifty years of Manthan. Prof Mehta discussed the parallel side of his architectural practice-four published books, two that are ready for publication, as well as a recent series of social media explorations. COUNCIL NEWS
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co Mobile Application for Registered Architects, Institutions and Students The Council of Architecture will soon launch a mobile application for registered architects, students, faculty, and institutions. The application will provide services related to registration, renewal facilities, and access to the newsletter, ‘Council News’ and magazine, ‘Architecture, Time, Space & People’.
Council’s First Approval Process Handbook The Council has published its first 'Approval Process Handbook' for the academic year 2022-2023. The Handbook is a concise collection of the regulations, norms and processes of approving institutions for the benefit of all stakeholders. It has been circulated to all the institutions and is available on the Council’s website for download.
Walk for Arcause: Walk for Good Design
COA Resumes Publication of Magazine: Architecture Time Space & People
The Council in collaboration with Ethos has launched 'Walk for Arcause', aimed at raising awareness on the role of good design in enriching lives.
‘Architecture Time Space & People’ has been a platform for the architectural fraternity to collaborate, converse and exchange innovative, offbeat and revolutionary ideas, stories and projects since time immemorial.
Ar Gita Balakrishnan, founder of Ethos, will walk the 1700 km stretch between Kolkata to Delhi from midFebruary to April 2022. As part of the walk, Gita will meet people in villages, towns, and cities to understand and identify issues requiring design solutions. The Handbook of Manual of Architectural Practice (MAP) shall be showcased and talks will be arranged to spread awareness among the target audience.
The Council of Architecture is shortly resuming the publication of magazine in e-format, covering various articles related to architectural education, profession, building technology and research. The upcoming theme discusses the effects and outcomes of COVID-19 on architectural production, education, culture, profession, environment and technology. Curated in the aftermath of the
onnected
pandemic, the intent is to also ‘reacquaint’ ourselves to the history and the contemporary with a vision for the future. We are now accepting submissions discussing the effects and outcomes of COVID-19 on architectural production, education, culture, profession, environment and technology. Please reach out to publicationcoa@gov.in for more details and submission guidelines.
Council's Call for Architectural Photographers The Council of Architecture is seeking architectural photographers to be featured in its bi-monthly magazine and monthly newsletter. Selected photographs will be displayed as either the cover image, double-page spread, single-page image, or alongside an article. Photographs must be watermarkfree. Credit information should be typed in a separate mail addressed to the 'Publication Department' at publication-coa@gov.in.
Films for the Future To spread awareness about architecture and the role of architects in society, the Council has begun preparing short films. The films intend to inspire future architects and emphasize the importance of utilizing architectural services in constructing buildings in India. The films will touch upon: Defining Architecture Architectural education and its rigours Describing the role of an architect in society 10
NOTICES
Renewal of Registration
Digital Certificates/ ID Cards
Renewal fee of Rs. 600/- for the calendar year 2022 is due on 1 January 2022 and, the date of payment without fine is 31 March 2022 or the last working day of March 2022, whichever is earlier, failing which a restoration fee of Rs. 1000/- will be applicable w.e.f 1 April 2022.
Council of Architecture is in the process of faciliatting online reneweal/ extension of validity of registration. Architects shall be provided with certificate of registration via a password protetcted file in pdf at their email address.
All concerned architects are requested to renew their registration by paying the renewal fees online or offline in time to avoid penalties.
Request to Update Communication Details Architects are requested to update their email address as a matter of urgency, to be incorporated in records of the Council enabling the Council to send timely updates, monthly newsletter and magazine. An option to update email is available at the website of the Council in E Services Tab " Email updation by Architects".
For the purposer, the Council shall provide physical certificate of Registration with the photograph, signature and QR code to all the registered architects free of cost. The Copuncil has also decided to issue new identity cards to all registered Architects. Architects are requested to update their photographs and signatures (under Dashboard->Architect>Update Photo and Signature) by logging into the COA Portal (www.coa.gov.in), using their username and password. The communication regarding the same has been sent by the Council.
Action on Complaints Received Against Quacks for Misuse of Title and Style of Architect The Council has devised an online form for submission of complaints against quacks or un-registered persons misrepresenting or misusing the title and style of architect in violation of Sections 36 and 37 of
the Architects Act, 1972. The form has been hosted on the website of the Council to lodge complaints against a person falsely posing or representing themselves as an Architect and practising as one making unlawful gains. The Council so far has issued show cause notices to 251 people for the misuse of title and style of architect under Sections 36 and 37 of the Architects Act, 1972 directing them to immediately stop representing as an architect and remove the word “Architect” from any document for soliciting architectural work and issue a press notification that they are not architects. They have been served individual notices as to why a complaint has been filed against them before Competent Judicial Magistrate for prosecution for violation of Sections 36 & 37 of the Act and Sections 419, 420 and 465 of the IPC. While 102 have submitted apologies and accepted the direction of the Council to not use the title and style of an architect, 24 persons have not accepted the letters. The Council has requested the concerned police authorities to extend their cooperation to the Council for delivering the notices to the concerned and also to take necessary action against them as per law.
Council News, the monthly newsletter of the Council of Architecture is published by Raj K. Oberoi and owned by the Council of Architecture, India Habitat Centre, Core 6-A, 1st Floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003 www.coa.gov.in facebook.com/COAsocialofficial Instagram: @coa_social LinkedIn : @council-of-architecture
