VIJAYAWADA
The Andhra Pradesh Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (APHERMC) has imposed a fine of ₹15 lakh on Mohan Babu University, in Tirupati for irregularities, including excess fee collection, non-disclosure of income, irregularities in attendance management, and for withholding original certificates of students.
The Commission, on September 17, also issued an order directing the University to refund the additional amount of ₹26 crore collected from students, and published the details of the order on its website. Further, it has also recommended to the Government, University Grants Commission, All-India Council for Technical Education and other regulatory bodies that the recognition of Mohan Babu University be withdrawn .
Following the inquiry conducted by the three-member committee appointed by the Commission to probe the allegations against the University, the APHERMC came to the conclusion that the University had collected an additional amount of ₹ 26.17 crore from students between 2022-23 to September 30, 2024. The University has been directed to repay the amount to the students within 15 days.
The University filed a writ petition challenging the APHERMC order and claimed that the order was arbitrary and issued without legal authority. It said the penalty imposed by APHERMC was beyond its jurisdiction and against the Andhra Pradesh Private Universities Act, 2016 and Rules, 2017.
The University appealed to the court to set aside the APHERMC order and the committee report. The Court granted an interim stay, and the matter is scheduled for next hearing on October 14, 2025.
Manchu Vishnu responds
Responding to media reports, Pro-Chancellor of Mohan Babu University Vishnu Manchu on Wednesday said the APHERMC had only made ‘recommendations’ and that the High Court already passed an interim stay on the issue.
Mr. Vishnu alleged that selective information was being circulated in the media to flare up the issue and portray the University in a negative light and said people should not be misled by unverified reports.
On October 13, 2024, the Parents Association of Andhra Pradesh lodged a complaint with the Andhra Pradesh Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (APHERMC) against the University alleging that it was collecting excess fees beyond the amounts prescribed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. These included additional charges under heads such as tuition fees, building fees, and other fees.
The parents also alleged that mess fees were collected even from day scholars who did not stay in the hostel, which violated Government regulations.
The association sent a similar complaint to the Minister for Education, raising concerns over “irregular fee collection” by the university.
The APHERMC constituted a three-member committee comprising Prof. N.P. Eswara Reddy, Member of the Commission and an academic expert, Prof. N. Ramanaiah, Member and academic expert and Lakshmi Prasanna, a chartered accountant, who inspected and mentioned the irregularities resorted to by the Mohan Babu University in their report.
Published – October 08, 2025 11:28 pm IST
