Private professional colleges issue closure notice to Telangana government over fee reimbursement dues

Telangana's private professional colleges, represented by FATHI, have issued a closure notice for November 3, demanding the government release Rs 900 crore in fee reimbursement dues by November 1. Colleges face operational paralysis, citing a total government debt of Rs 10,000 crore in dues

Hyderabad: The private professional colleges have put Telangana Congress government on institutions’ closure notice, commencing November 3, if the State administration fails to release Rs 900 crore fee reimbursement dues before November 1.

The Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions (FATHI), which represents private professional colleges in the State, handed over the notice to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao here.

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According to the FATHI, the government assured to release Rs 1,200 crore towards fee reimbursement dues but only Rs 300 crore has been released so far, leaving a balance of Rs 900 crore pending.

This partial release of money, as per the colleges, triggered widespread distress among institutions, leading to severe pressure from faculty, staff, vendors, and building owners who have been waiting for months for their payments.

The FATHI representatives apprised the government that they have been making every effort to convince the managements to remain patient. However, their frustration and desperation have reached a critical level, and the situation is becoming increasingly volatile.

Adding to woes, the colleges said they are now facing complete operational paralysis as electricity and internet services are being disconnected, maintenance activities have stopped, and essential campus services collapsed due to pending dues.

With inspections by AICTE and universities underway, the deteriorating conditions are projecting a deeply embarrassing image of Telangana’s higher education sector before statutory bodies and the public, the FATHI said.

“FATHI requests the government to release the promised Rs 900 crore before November 1. If the said amount is not released by then, all private professional colleges across the State will be compelled to observe a bandh from November 3 as an expression of their collective anguish and as a last measure for survival,” the FATHI added. The government owes a total of Rs 10,000 crore fee reimbursement dues to private colleges.