Hyderabad : Activists allege St. Joseph's college of collecting excess fees

Hyderabad: Forum Against Corruption (FAC) filed a petition with Telangana Commissioner of Collegiate Education and Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) on Thursday against excess fee collected by St Joseph Degree and PG College in King Koti area. FAC alleged that the college is collecting Rs 35,500 for BBA course when it is supposed to charge only Rs 12,000 as per government fee structures.

Similarly, the college has been collecting Rs 46,300 for BCom General instead of Rs 8,000 as per Degree Online Services Telangana (DOST) official portal. FAC members have requested the Commissioner of Collegiate Education (CCE) and TSCHE to take action against the college authorities. The members further alleged that the college claims that they are autonomous, allowing them to collect fees in their terms. The state/university-regulated fee structure does not apply to autonomous institutions.

Reportedly, the college appears in the DOST portal, which essentially means that the management is required to adhere to the norms of the TSCHE and its fee regulations, FAC said.

Replying to the RTI filed by Vijay Gopal, Joint Secretary of UGC said that the college is supposed to collect fees prescribed by the University/ State Govt. The Joint Secretary also suggested Vijay complain to concerned University and the state government with all relevant documents.

Vijay, the founder of Forum Against Corruption (FAC), told NewsMeter, “We had issued a legal notice to the college management via email. We have asked them to share any document allowing them to charge fees in their terms. If they don’t have those documents, then they should stop the collection of excess fees. However, the college authorities have not yet replied to the mail. We also marked TSCHE officials in the mail.”

The college collects from Rs 45,000 to Rs 75,000 for different courses. Vijay said that the CCE should confirm under what grounds these colleges have an exception if they have any. “The CCE should also be aware of the college’s revenue and expenditure. Who gave the college authorities the exception, if they have any?”

Professor R Limbadri, Convenor DOST, speaking to NewsMeter, said, “We will take action against the college if we get proper representation along with proper evidence.”