APHC010385702024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] THURSDAY,THE TWELFTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 19761/2024 Between: 1. H M DEGREE COLLEGE, REP BY ITS CORRESPONDENT SMT. SYED FAREEDA BOSE NAGAR, RAYACHOTY KADAPA DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 516 269. 2. H.M. DEGREE COLLEGE, REP BY ITS CORRESPONDENT SMT. SYED FAREEDA MADANAPALLI ROAD, PUNGANUR CHITTOOR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH -517 247. 3. H.M. DEGREE COLLEGE, REP BY ITS CORRESPONDENT SMT. SYED FAREEDA REKKAMANU VILLAGE, GANDLAPENTA MANDAL, ANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH ...PETITIONER(S) AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY SOCIAL WELFARE 2 DEPARTMENT, TULLURU, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 3. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TRIBAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, AP SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT 4. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY FINANCE DEPARTMENT, TULLURU, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 5. THE DIRECTOR, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. 6. THE DIRECTOR, TRIBAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT D.NO.40-3/1-46/4A, KONERU LAKSHMAIAH STREET, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH-520010 ...RESPONDENT(S): 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 tomay 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 mentioned for obvious reasons as being arbitrary, illegal and violating Articles 14, 16, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also in contravention of the GO Ms. No.81, Social Welfare Department, Dated 07-05- 2019 and GO Ms. No. 115, Social Welfare Department, Dated 30-11-2019 and consequential Government Orders and consequential direct the Respondents to release the admitted amount towards Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) to the Petitioner institution together with interest thereon @ 24 3 percent per annum and issue such other writ or order or direction as deemed fit and proper in the circumstances of case. IA NO: 1 OF 2024 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased may be pleased to direct the Respondents to release the admitted amount towards Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) to the Petitioner institution together with interest thereon @ 24% per annum, pending disposal of the Writ Petition, in the interest of justice and pass such Counsel for the Petitioner(S): 1. SRI VIJAY MATHUKUMILLI 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: 4 THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY W.P.No.19761 of 2024 O R D E R: The present Writ Petition is filed questioning the action of the Respondents in not releasing the admitted due amount to a tune of Rs.76,21,479/- (Rupees Seventy Six Lakhs Twenty One Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Nine only), together with interest thereon @24% per annum to the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions towards reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions under the 'Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) Scheme' for the academic years 2018-19, 2019-20 (Petitioner No.1/Institution), 2017-18 to 2019-20 (Petitioner No.2/Institution), 2018-19 and 2019-20 (Petitioner No.3/Institution), as illegal and arbitrary. 2. The facts in brief are as follows: The Petitioner Nos.1 to 3 are private un-aided colleges. In order to promote academic education in the State, State Government had introduced a scheme originally titled as „Right to Tuition Fee (RTE)‟ and „Maintenance Fee of Student (MTF)‟ through the Social Welfare Department. The students are 5 allotted to the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions through the Social Welfare Department. For the academic years 2018-19, 2019-20 (Petitioner No.1/Institution), 2017-18 to 2019-20 (Petitioner No.2/Institution), 2018-19 and 2019-20 (Petitioner No.3/Institution), the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions were allotted students as per the scheme, but the amounts were not credited to the colleges accounts, though there is no dispute with regard to the amount due. 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 and the said portal has all the details of the colleges and the students admitted among other stakeholder details. Thereafter, the “Jnanabhumi” portal was modified for better services vide G.O.Ms.No.81, Social Welfare (Edn.2) Department, dated 07.05.2019. It is further submitted that the amounts due to the colleges under „RTF‟ and „MTF‟ schemes would be available on this “Jnanabhumi” portal with details of the students. 4. Learned counsel for the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions 6 submits that in the face of the availability of details of amounts due to the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions under the above- mentioned schemes, there is no justification to delay the payments. 5. Learned Government Pleader, on instructions received from the Director of Social Welfare Department vide letter dated 26.11.2025, submits that the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions have wrongly described the claimed amount as “admitted dues” under the „Fee Reimbursement Scheme‟. It is further submitted that the said amount represents only the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions claim and not admitted dues and the dues are calculated strictly in 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 Amount. 6. Considering the submissions on both sides, this Writ Petition is disposed of, with the following directions:- (i) The Respondent-Authorities are directed to examine the claim of the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions as per the “Jnanabhumi” portal within a 7 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 Nos.1 to 3/Institutions shall be paid to the Petitioner Nos.1 to 3/Institutions within a period of three (3) months thereafter. (iii) There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel, the miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this Petition shall stand closed. __________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 12.03.2026 chs 8 55 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 19761/2024 Dt. 12.03.2026 chs