Hyderabad: The Telangana Department of Technical Education (TGDTE) has announced that it is illegal for educational institutions to hold onto students’ original certificates. Schools that do this may face serious consequences, including being blacklisted. This announcement came after a complaint from Arempala Keerthi, a B.Tech EEE student at CVR College of Engineering in Hyderabad. Keerthi claimed her original certificates were not returned by the college even after she finished her studies. The Department quickly instructed the college’s principal to give all of Keerthi’s documents back to her. They highlighted how crucial it is for students to have their certificates to continue their education or find jobs.
The guidelines refer to a policy from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) issued in February 2021. This policy clearly states that AICTE-approved institutions cannot hold students’ original certificates after they have been checked. Such actions are described as “illegal and unethical.” The AICTE warns that institutions breaking this rule will face tough penalties.
A letter from August 2024 by the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) to all universities adds to these concerns. The Council noticed some private colleges were not returning certificates, blaming unpaid tuition fees due to pending government fee reimbursements. This practice is against the UGC (Grievance Redressal of Students) Regulations 2018, which forbid colleges from keeping documents submitted for admission.
The TGCHE has ordered universities to ensure private colleges do not ask students eligible for fee reimbursement to pay tuition fees before returning their documents. Institutions that disobey these orders risk being blacklisted and could lose their eligibility for fee reimbursement and future affiliations, ensuring compliance is taken seriously.
