Telangana High Court Against Enhancing Or Determining Fee Structure to BE/ BTech, PG Courses
Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court was hearing petitions from several engineering colleges including Gokaraju Rangaraju, Gokaraju Lailavathi, G. Narayannamma, Gurunanak Group of Engineering Institutions, Ace Engineering Colleges, VNR Vignana Jyothi and Hyderabad Institute of Technology
Hyderabad: Telangana High Court was not inclined to enhance or determine the fee structure to BE/ BTech and PG courses in several petitioner colleges for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year. The court did not stay or set aside GO 26, dated 30.06.2025, which extended the fee applicable for the block period of 2022-23 to 2024-25 to 2025-28.
Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court was hearing petitions from several engineering colleges including Gokaraju Rangaraju, Gokaraju Lailavathi, G. Narayannamma, Gurunanak Group of Engineering Institutions, Ace Engineering Colleges, VNR Vignana Jyothi and Hyderabad Institute of Technology.
Justice Lakshman noted that High Courts could not determine the fee in exercise of their extraordinary powers under Article 226 of the Constitution. Such exercise would lead to usurping the statutory powers of the Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC), rendering the body a toothless tiger.
The court said that the colleges were not entitled for the interim relief they sought: Stay on GO 26 and a direction to the Eapcet convener to reflect the enhanced fee of the colleges in the official portal or Eapcet website.
The court directed the Eapcet convener to inform the students that the fee paid by them to the institutions was subject to the result of the present writ petitions, by placing the appropriate circular in its official website or in any other mode.
At the same time, the court directed the AFRC to complete the exercise of consideration of fee enhancement proposals submitted by the petitioner colleges, and determine the fee and send it to the state government within six weeks.
Telangana Admission and Fee Revision Committee (TAFRC) has to prescribe a fee for a block period of three years. TAFRF issued a notification, dated 15.07.2024, calling private un-aided professional colleges to submit its proposals for fixation of fee in terms of Rules, 2006. Several engineering colleges submitted proposals for the block period 2025-26 to 2027-28, along with supporting documents.
After a hearing in March, TAFRC approved proposed fee, submitted a report to the government.
Government issued GO Ms. No. 26, dated 30.06.2025 stating that TAFRC recommendations were at variance with the parameters, terms and conditions of the orders of the Supreme Court and High Court. It said the government may appoint a committee of officers to examine the parameters for fee fixation and suggest revisions.
Till then, the fees fixed for the block period of 2022-25 may continue.
Open Premises Of Educational Institution Run By Dharmavant Hindi Educational Trust: HC
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court directed the police to unlock the premises of the educational institution run by the Dharmavant Hindi Educational Trust in the Old City. The locks were placed by private persons in May. The court directed the police to ensure free access to teachers, staff and students into the institutions.
The trust was established in 1935 and its educational institutions were running under the management of Hindi Prachar Sabha, Hyderabad. Some private persons, stating that they had lease rights, since 2014 allegedly obstructed the running of the institution. In May, the private persons have reportedly locked the institution.
