Hyderabad: In a significant interaction focusing on the future of higher education in Telangana, TPCC Legal Cell Coordinator Shashank Pasupuleti called on Justice A. Gopal Reddy, Chairman of the Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (TAFRC), and held detailed discussions on educational reforms, transparent fee regulation, and the effective implementation of welfare measures for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Backward Classes (BC), Minority, and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
During the meeting, Shashank Pasupuleti emphasized the need to strengthen the State’s higher education ecosystem by ensuring that every deserving student has access to quality education without financial hardship. He underlined the importance of timely disbursal of scholarships, fee reimbursement, hostel facilities, and other government welfare schemes, while advocating for greater transparency and accountability in admissions and fee structures across private professional institutions.
Justice A. Gopal Reddy, a distinguished former Judge of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh High Court, shared his views on the importance of maintaining a fair and balanced regulatory framework in higher education. With decades of experience in the legal profession and judiciary, he has served as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel, Government Pleader for key Government departments, and was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 1999, becoming a Permanent Judge in 2000 before retiring in 2011.
As Chairman of the Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (TAFRC), Justice Gopal Reddy is entrusted with overseeing the statutory process of fee regulation for private professional educational institutions. The Committee examines audited financial statements, infrastructure and operational expenditure, faculty costs, and other relevant parameters before approving fee structures in accordance with the law. It also ensures that institutions adhere to regulatory norms and safeguards students from unauthorized fee collection.
The meeting also explored ways to improve access to quality education, promote skill development, encourage digital learning, and strengthen institutional accountability so that educational opportunities are expanded for students from marginalized communities.
Describing the interaction as a privilege, Shashank Pasupuleti said it was an honour to meet Justice A. Gopal Reddy and exchange views with a jurist who continues to contribute to the education sector through his leadership of TAFRC. He noted that discussions with experienced public servants are valuable in shaping policy perspectives that can benefit students across Telangana.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing the importance of continued dialogue and collaborative efforts to promote an equitable, transparent, and student-centric higher education system that advances the educational aspirations of Telangana’s youth.
