Incensed over the fee structure decided by the government for engineering courses this year, the college managements are planning to move courts, which is likely to delay the admission notification further.
The government released the orders on fee structure on Saturday fixing fee ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1.13 lakh based on the Admission and Fee Regulation Committee (AFRC) recommendations. Several college managements, however, have questioned the fee structure and are planning to move the court on Monday.
As per the government orders, fee in 195 colleges has been reduced to Rs. 30,000 per annum as against Rs. 35,000 last year. A fee of Rs. 35,000 was fixed for 258 engineering colleges while 176 colleges could secure fees of over Rs. 35,000. No fee structure was decided for 19 colleges and they may not be eligible for admissions.
Highest fee
The CBIT Gandipet topped with the highest fee of Rs. 1,13,300 while students opting for Vasavi College of Engineering have to pay Rs. 1,09,300. The government has also decided to reduce fee for second year students in 68 engineering colleges that got fee structure ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh last year. The new fee structure would be valid for three years for both the convenor quota and management quota.
The AFRC recommended fee reduction in 195 colleges as they failed to provide their income and expenditure details. The fee will be revised if they submit the accounts by September 30 or else they will have to forego the admissions and also refund the fee collected.
College managements are upset over the fee structure and termed the AFRC report as illegal and unscientific. N. Ramesh, chairman, Consortium of Engineering and Professional Colleges Managements Association of AP said that colleges as well as the association will approach the courts. He said the AFRC report was based on whims and fancies and no proper procedure was followed.
He alleged that the AFRC report reflected its efforts to satisfy the government and save money under the fee reimbursement scheme. “How can the colleges offer engineering education with a fee of Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 35,000?” he questioned.