Bagh Lingampally's law college collecting illegal fees in name of special fee

Hyderabad: The BR Ambedkar Law College in Bagh Lingampally in Hyderabad has been collecting illegal fees of Rs. 2,500from students in the name of a special fee. The issue came to light when Vijay Gopal, a second-year LLB student at the college and President of Forum Against Corruption, went to pay his fees. Besides the Rs. 25,000 regular fees, he was asked to pay a special fee of Rs. 2,500. Vijay pointed out that this is illegal. "According to Osmania University regulations, this special fee is a one-time fee and the students are meant to pay it only during the year of admission. But here, it is being collected every year," he said.

He asked the management to show a circular or GO that allows the college to collect this special fee. The college didn't give a satisfactory reply but said they will return the special fee amount to Vijay. But he insisted on returning the amount to all the students who had paid the fees but the college was reluctant to do so. In fact, the college management told Vijay how other law colleges in Hyderabad are collecting such fees and that their special fee was very nominal when compared to others.

Vijay explained how the college is making lakhs of rupees in this manner through wrongful means. "This special fee is being collected from approximately 2,500-3,000 students which amounts to around Rs. 75 lakh in wrongful gains or revenue. This is illegal and the college deserves to be punished for its action," he said.

The point 3h (vii) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Grievance Redressal guidelines of 2019 prohibits colleges from demanding money in excess of that specified to be charged in the declared admission policy of the institution.

Vijay filed a written complaint to the principal and management of BR Ambedkar Law college. When they failed to give a satisfactory response, he filed an official complaint with Osmania University through the university website's grievance redressal page. However, Upendar, the nodal officer of Osmania University, said he hasn't received any such complaint yet.

D. Sujana, the principal of BR Ambedkar Law College who was appointed nearly two months ago, admitted that the special fee that is being collected from the students is illegal. "This has been continuing for a few years. I have written to the management to waive off this fee. Once I get to hear their decision, we will immediately implement it," she said. She also said that the college management is pro-students. "The institution has been functioning under the aegis of G. Venkat Swamy garu and works especially for the benefit of the students from marginalised and backward communities," the principal added.