Challenge in these writ petitions is to the Circular dated 08.10.2015 issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE), in so far as it imposed a fine of Rs.5,000/- per student admitted from other than the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which was to be paid by the management of the college concerned, and required the management to also submit antecedent reports as regards such students.

The matters are amenable to final disposal as the pleadings are complete and Sri D.V.Sitarama Murthy, learned senior counsel appearing for Smt.Machikalapati Renuka, learned counsel for the petitioners in W.P.No.35468 of 2015, Sri S.Sri Ram, learned counsel for the petitioners in W.P.No.35522 of 2015, Sri Y.Kishore, learned standing counsel for the APSCHE, and Sri C.Sudesh Anand, learned counsel for the Convenor, LAWCET/PGLCET-2015, advanced comprehensive arguments covering the gamut of issues arising in these cases.

W.P.No.35468 of 2015 was filed by five colleges, while the other writ petition was filed by 15 students aggrieved by the offending portions of the Circular dated 08.10.2015.

The factual matrix, to the extent relevant, is as under:

The Rules framed under