HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the state government not to give effect to certain clauses of GO 9 until further orders while hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by private educational institutions over the non-release of fee reimbursement dues.
Justice Jukanti Sridevi issued the interim direction while hearing 89 petitions filed by private colleges, which alleged that fee reimbursement amounts approved by the government for SC, ST, BC, EBC and minority students had remained unpaid for the academic years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
Justice Sridevi directed the respondents to file their counters and posted the matter to June 30.
Petitioners: GO 9 a copy of earlier GOs
The petitions also challenge a provision in GO 7, issued on April 29, restraining colleges from compelling students to pay tuition fees and other charges at the time of admission. The institutions argued that the restriction was contrary to earlier High Court orders permitting them to collect fees directly from students.
Senior counsel S Sriram, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that although GO 7 was withdrawn through GO 8 after the court stayed its operation, GO 9, which prescribes guidelines for implementing the fee reimbursement scheme, retained substantially the same mechanism.
Under GO 9, reimbursement is to be credited directly to students’ bank accounts, with students required to transfer the amount to their colleges within a week.
The order also provides for recovery proceedings against parents if students fail to do so. The petitioners contended that the mechanism was contrary to the court’s earlier orders and could affect colleges’ ability to recover their dues.
Special Government Pleader Rahul Reddy submitted that the scheme included a Union government component and that the Advocate General would place the details before the court. He said students joining recognised colleges could apply for fee reimbursement by the end of July and that the government proposed to clear the dues by August 15.
Rahul Reddy submitted that the Centre would release its share only after the state released its contribution and argued that an interim order could affect the entire Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, including post-matric scholarships for SC and ST students. According to the state, the Centre’s share was 60%.
After hearing the submissions, Justice Sridevi directed the authorities not to give effect to the impugned provisions of GO 9 until further orders and granted the state time to file its counter.
