Telangana HC fee order raises alarm over impact on marginalized students
HYDERABAD: The Association for Socio-economic Empowerment of the Marginalized (ASEEM) and the Students’ Islamic Organization (SIO), Telangana, have expressed concern following an interim order by the Telangana High Court that allows private colleges to collect tuition fees directly from students starting in the 2026–27 academic year.
The organizations state that this ruling places students from SC, ST, BC, EBC, and minority communities at risk of educational exclusion and financial hardship. The High Court issued the order while hearing petitions from private colleges. Although the state government acknowledged significant pending scholarship dues, the court permitted institutions to bypass the Fee Reimbursement Scheme, which is designed to cover tuition fees for economically disadvantaged students.
“For years, students have been promised that the government would cover their tuition. But continued delays and non-payment of dues have caused problems. Now, colleges are allowed to shift this burden onto students,” the joint press statement from ASEEM and SIO read.
Both organizations acknowledge the financial challenges colleges face due to government delays. However, they describe the decision to collect fees from underprivileged students as insensitive and discriminatory.
ASEEM and SIO stated that the order compromises the purpose of the welfare scheme. They are concerned that the ruling might result in increased reports of harassment by some colleges, including withholding academic certificates, denying hall tickets, and demanding upfront payments from families below the poverty line.
“This order exposes vulnerable students to coercion, harassment, and denial of education,” S.Q. Masood, State Secretary, ASEEM, added.
It is learnt that the High Court acknowledged significant unpaid government dues, some of which remain undistributed despite payment tokens being generated. As a result, the burden now shifts to marginalized students.
In response, ASEEM and SIO, Telangana, issued a five-point demand to the state government, including to file an immediate appeal against the court order, promptly release all pending dues, instruct colleges not to coerce students or deny hall tickets or certificates, announce a definite timeline for clearing dues, and establish a mechanism to address student and college concerns. They warn that failure to act will negatively affect the state’s development.
The organizations reminded the public that their Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding scholarship pendency and student harassment is pending before the Division Bench of the Telangana High Court. They remain committed to pursuing the matter through all legal and democratic means.
“Education is a right, not a privilege, and no student should be forced to discontinue studies or face humiliation due to the State’s failure to fulfill the State’s financial commitments,” Mohd Hammaduddin, State Secretary, SIO-Telangana, said.
