Hyderabad: Students whose college fees were to be reimbursed by the Telangana govt say colleges are withholding their degree certificates and original academic documents until pending dues are cleared.This practice, based on student testimonies, is blocking job applications, admissions and research opportunities.One student who completed his MTech from a notable university in 2024, said he still does not have his degree certificate two years later. “I completed my course two years ago, but I still don’t have my Master’s certificate. Without it, I cannot apply for jobs. The same issue had occurred during my graduation as well. The govt has paid the 2022 tuition fee, but 2023 fee remains pending. There are many students who are unable to pursue research fellowships or higher studies because their certificates are being withheld,” he said, requesting anonymity.Another student, Atif ur Rahman, said the delay cost him an academic year. After completing the graduation component of his integrated course at a university and qualifying in ICET, he said the university refused to release his documents until he paid the pending fee himself. “I had secured a good rank in ICET, but I couldn’t continue because my documents were withheld. I eventually paid ₹26,000 from my own pocket to obtain them, but by then I had already lost one academic year,” he said, sharing payment receipts with TOI.One Abdul Aziz Ramzan, who graduated from a private college in 2024, said his college continues to retain not just his degree certificate but his original SSC and diploma certificates. “I wanted to apply for a Master’s, but without my original documents, which are withheld by the college, I cannot even complete the admission process. Every few months we are told the govt will release the reimbursement, but nothing happens,” he said.The issue was highlighted at a roundtable organised by the Student Islamic Organisation, Telangana, and ASEEM on Tuesday. Data presented showed that of 7.5 lakh applications received between 2020-21 and 2024-25, only 1.87 lakh were sanctioned and 1.49 lakh remained pending. No applications were sanctioned during 2024-25, the organisations said, adding that colleges were withholding original certificates despite govt and court directions against the practice.Telangana Council for Higher Education chairperson Prof V Balakista Reddy acknowledged the issue. “We have been receiving 15-20 such complaints everyday and have been personally talking to colleges and resolving them. We understand that students are suffering and would like them to know that the pending amounts would be reimbursed,” he said.
