Engineering college managements call off closure of colleges from February 24

HYD: Engineering college managements have decided to call off the proposed closure of colleges from February 24 in view of the Supreme Court's directions to the State government to release all the fee reimbursement dues before July 15.

Representatives of the college managements met the Minister for Higher Education, Damodar Rajnarsimha, who requested them to withdraw their decision as the issue was settled now. Agreeing that financial constraints had led to the delay is disbursement of funds, he said the government would release the dues.

Later, speaking to reporters, N. Ramesh, Chairman of Consortium of Engineering and Professional Colleges Managements Associations, said that they had decided to withdraw the closure decision. He thanked all the political parties and other welfare organisations that extended their support to them. He also requested former MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to call off his “deeksha” as the government had responded positively in view of the Supreme Court's directions.

The Consortium of Engineering Colleges Managements Associations (CECMA) general secretary, P. Rajeshwar Reddy, and president of Rural Engineering Colleges Managements Association K. Krishna Reddy said the withdrawal decision was taken keeping in view the interests of students. “Since the dilemma is over we request the students to concentrate on their studies as the academic year is also coming to an end,” they said.