APHC010350352024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] FRIDAY, THE SIXTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 17873/2024 Between: 1. SREE VENKATESWARA DEGREE COLLEGE, DEVANAKONDA, PATTIKONDA ROAD, KURNOOL DISTRICT REP BY ITS CORRESPONDENT K.LAKSHMANA SWAMY ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 4. THE DIRECTOR, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. ...RESPONDENT(S): 2 Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate writ more in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondents in not releasing the admitted due amounts to the Petitioner Institution towards reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by them under the Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) scheme for the academic years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019as arbitrary, illegal and violating Articles 14, 16, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also in contravention of the GOMs.No.81, Social Welfare Department, Dated 07.05.2019 and G.O.Ms.No.115, Social Welfare Department, Dated 30.11.2019 and set-aside the same and consequently direct the Respondents to release the admitted amount to a tune of Rs.55,27,481/- towards Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) for the academic years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 to the Petitioner institution together with interest thereon @ 24 percent per annum and issue such other writ or order or direction as deemed fit and proper in the circumstances of case. Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. P BADRINATH Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 2. GP FOR SOCIAL WELFARE 3. GP FOR FINANCE PLANNING The Court made the following: 3 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.17873 of 2024 ORDER: 1. The present Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of Respondents in not releasing the admitted due amount to a tune of Rs.3,87,670/- (Rupees Three Lakhs Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy only) together with interest thereon @ 24% per annum to the Petitioner-College towards reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by them under the 'Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) Scheme' for the Academic Year 2018-19. 2. The facts, in brief, are as follows; The Petitioner is a Private Unaided College. In order to promote academic education in the State, the State Government had introduced a Scheme originally titled as Right to Tuition Fee (RTF) and Maintenance Fee of Student (MTF) through the Social Welfare Department. The students are allotted to the Petitioner-College through the Social Welfare Department. For the Academic Year 2018-19, the Petitioner- College was allotted students as per the Schemes, but the amounts were not credited to the College accounts though there is no dispute with regard to the amount due. 4 3. It is further stated that “Jnanabhumi” smart portal was created to streamline the Post Metric Scholarships Eco-System vide G.O.Ms.No.45, Social Welfare (Edn.2) Department, dated 09.06.2017. It is stated that the said portal has all the details of the colleges and the students admitted among other stakeholder details. Vide G.O.Ms.No.81, Social Welfare (Edn.2) Department, dated 07.05.2019, the “Jnanabhumi” portal was modified for better services. It is stated that the amounts due to the Colleges under RTF and MTF Schemes would be available on this “Jnanabhumi” portal with the details of the students. 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that in the face of the availability of details of amounts due to the Petitioner-College under the above mentioned Schemes, there is no justification to delay the payments. 5. Learned Government Pleader submits that the Petitioner- College has wrongly described the claimed amount as “admitted dues” under the Fee Reimbursement Scheme. It is submitted that the said amount represents only the Petitioner’s claim and not admitted dues. The dues are calculated strictly in 5 accordance with the data available on the “Jnanabhumi” portal, which is the online platform for registration of applications, verification, processing, and release of fee reimbursement amounts. 6. Considering the submissions made on both sides, this Writ Petition is disposed of, with the following directions; i) The Respondents concerned are directed to examine the claim of the Petitioner-College as per the Jnanabhumi portal within a period of eight (08) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order; ii) On verification, the amount due to the Petitioner shall be paid to the Petitioner within a period of three (3) months thereafter; iii) There shall be no order as to costs. 7. As a sequel, pending applications, if any, shall stand closed. __________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 06.03.2026 IS 6 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION No.17873 of 2024 Date: 06.03.2026 IS