The Supreme Court on Monday directed the state government to clear all arrears of tuition fees to private college managements by July 15.
Taking a serious note of the failure of the state government to clear the arrears amounting to Rs. 3,400 crores, the Apex Court rejected the government's petition that sought extension upto September for clearing dues.
The court directed the state government to clear 25% of the dues by March 25th, and another 25% by May 31st. The remaining 50% should be paid by July 15, to 600 colleges, the court said.
The Supreme Court directed the state government to clear all reimbursement dues pending since last July, and adjourned the case for further hearing to the second week of March.
The colleges had approached the apex court after talks with the government failed, and announced the strike from February 24.
The private college managements stated that they have not received anything from the state government in the past 9 months, and sought the court to direct the government to release at least 50% of the dues immediately. The college managements said the government can pay the remaining dues after April.
With this development, the private engineering college managements and parents of students have heaved a sigh of relief.