In Brief
Two unaided engineering colleges challenged the Andhra Pradesh Government's interim fee fixation for 2019 onwards, which applied 2016-19 fee rates without following the statutory procedure. The State had not complied with Rule 4 of the 1983 Act, which requires the AFRC to examine proposals, consider specified factors, hear institutions, and seek Government notification. A Single Judge suspended this interim order as prima facie illegal. A Division Bench modified the order to allow fee collection with bank guarantees. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding the interim fee illegal and restoring the Single Judge's suspension, requiring the State to follow proper procedure before fixing final fees.
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