India, Nov. 13 -- After years of unpaid salaries, mounting retirement dues, and repeated warnings from the government and courts, the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) on Thursday took over the management of seven colleges run by the Sinhgad Technical Education Society (STES) for three years, citing neglect of institutional responsibilities and the need to protect students' academic interests.

The action, taken under Section 3(1) of the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Management) Act, 1976, comes two days after the Bombay High Court directed the Directorate of Higher Education and the Directorate of Technical Education to initiate appropriate action against defaulting educational institutions in accordance with the law.

The No...