Any redetermination of educational fees that adversely affects an institution's interests must be preceded by a fair opportunity of hearing and disclosure of the materials (working sheets) used for such determination to satisfy the principles of natural justice.

: O R D E R :

This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief:

“...to issue a Writ, order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of respondents in continuing the same fee of Rs.89,000/- which was fixed during the Block Period 2019-22 and 2022-25 is being continued even for the present Block Period 2025-28 as being wholly arbitrary, illegal, unconstitutional in violation of the provisions of the Act, 1983 and the Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee Rules, 2006 and the law laid down by this Court and the Honourable Supreme Court of India, and consequently direct the respondents to reconsider and redetermine the fee for B.Tech Course in so far as petitioner institution is concerned for the Block Period 2025-28 and pass such other or further orders as this Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

02. Heard Sri A.Venkatesh, learned Senior Counsel representing Mr.P.Pandu Ranga Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri K.Sharath, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Higher Education; Sri G.Chandra Sekhar Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for the Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (TAFRC); Sri A.P.Suresh Ram, learned Standing Counsel for Telangana State Council for Higher Education; (TGSCHE) and Sri Prabhakar Peri, learned Standing Counsel for Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH); and Perused the material available on record.

03. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners-institutions are established with the primary objective of providing educational facilities in the State of Telangana. The petitioners-institutions impart technical education in Engineering and Technical courses and they are being annually granted approval by the AICTE and have received requisite affiliation from the respondent university.

The petitioners-institutions are amongst the best and most preferred choice of students in the State of Telangana.

3.1. After the bifurcation of the State of Andhra Pradesh, the State of Telangana adopted the regulatory framework under G.O.Ms.No.6 dated 08.01.2007 through G.O.Ms.No.26, dated 22.07.2015. On the same day, TAFRC was constituted vide G.O.Rt.No.160, dated 22.07.2015.

3.2. After due establishment of the petitioners-institutions, the respondent No.2-TAFRC fixed the fees for the courses offered by the petitioners-institutions in accordance with the prevailing regulatory framework.

3.3. For the block period 2019-22 the fee was determined as Rs.89,000/- and thereafter for the Block period A.Y. 2022-25 the respondent No.2 retained the same fee of Rs.89,000/-. The respondent No.2-TAFRC issued a notification, dated 15.07.2024 inviting proposals for fees fixation. After the submission of the proposals for Rs.1,75,000/-, a personal hearing was conducted and upon consideration of the material, the respondent No.2-TAFRC retained the same fee of Rs.89,000/-.

3.4. However, respondent No.1 issued G.O.Ms.No.26, dated 30.06.2025 continuing the earlier fee structure applicable to the previous block period for the academic year 2025-26. The said G.O. was challenged before this Court in W.P.No.19955 of 2025 and batch. By order, dated 11.07.2025, this Court directed the respondent No.2-TAFRC to complete reconsideration and determination of fees within six weeks. The said interim order was upheld in W.A.No.749 of 2025 and batch.

3.5. Subsequently, the respondent No.1 issued G.O.Ms.No.29