Private Colleges in Telangana Shut Down Indefinitely Over Pending Fee Reimbursement Dues

Hyderabad, Telangana, September 15, 2025 : Around 2,000 private professional and degree colleges across Telangana have announced an indefinite closure, effective today. The decision, made by the Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Educational Institutions (FATHI), is a strong protest against the state government's failure to release pending fee reimbursement dues. College managements are observing today, which is also Engineer's Day, as a "Black Day" to register their protest. The move has put the academic future of hundreds of thousands of students at stake and has left thousands of faculty and staff members without salaries for months. FATHI's demands include the immediate release of ₹1,200 crore in dues before the upcoming Dussehra festival, with all pending payments to be cleared by October 31. They also want a government order on a new reimbursement system to be issued by December 31, and the settlement of 2025-26 dues before March 2026. According to college managements, the prolonged delay in receiving funds has led to a severe financial crisis, making it impossible to pay staff salaries and meet other operational expenses. In a joint statement, the federation said that many staff members are unable to meet their basic needs and are facing immense hardship. In an effort to resolve the crisis, a high-level meeting was held between FATHI representatives and state government officials. The government, led by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, has shown a positive inclination to clear the dues. However, the colleges have made it clear that the strike will continue until a concrete solution is reached and the government fulfills its promise.