Pondy med univ PG fee cut to Rs 10L
A Subramani
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Chennai:
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`Admit Students Provisionally Selected In Order Of Merit'
In a big relief to postgraduate medical students who had been asked to cough up fees ranging from ` 40 lakh to ` 50 lakh by deemed universities in Puducherry, Madras high court has said it would be enough if students paid `10 lakh as first year's fee and that final figures should be prescribed by a committee formed by the UGC and the Centre by June 19.“When self-financing private medical colleges can survive by charging a fee of `5.5 lakh per annum for students under state quota and `14 lakh for students under management quota, which is 50% of the total seats, we find it difficult to accept that the fee of ` 40 lakh to `50 lakh per annum charged by deemed universities, is reasonable,“ said the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar on Friday.
Noting that it could not keep its eyes shut to the issue, the court said, “By rea son of exorbitant fee notified by deemed universities, there are still seats going vacant and students who have duly competed and succeeded in clearing the admission tests, and have undergone counselling, being deprived of an opportunity to pursue their higher studies by reason of prohibitive fees, which is prima facie unsustainable in law.“
The bench then directed the deemed universities to admit the students provisio nally selected in the order of merit, subject to the condition that the student should deposit `10 lakh each at the time of admission towards annual fee for the first year with CENTAC, and subject to other conditions that in the event of the fee determined by the fee committee constituted by the UGC and union HRD ministry being more, they should pay the differential amount.
As for students who have already take admission by depositing the full fee, the bench said if necessary they could claim refund or adjustment of the differential amount, against the fee that might be determined by the committee.
Making it clear that the present order offers only interim relief to students and that their fate would hinge on the final verdict on the is sue, the bench said the future of students, thus, would remain uncertain. To alleviate their suffering, the bench said, “there is immense urgency and we expect the UGC and the union HRD ministry shall forththwith constitute a committee to regulate the fee chargesable by self-financing deemed universities after giving all stake holders adequate opportunity of representation.“
The bench then adjourned the matter to July 14 for further hearing.
As for the fact that the PIL had been filed by an advocate VBR Menon, and not the affected students, the bench said: “This court can take note of the facts pleaded by a public spirited citizen in a PIL and suo motu pass orders to redress the grievances of the student community.“
Noting that it could not keep its eyes shut to the issue, the court said, “By rea son of exorbitant fee notified by deemed universities, there are still seats going vacant and students who have duly competed and succeeded in clearing the admission tests, and have undergone counselling, being deprived of an opportunity to pursue their higher studies by reason of prohibitive fees, which is prima facie unsustainable in law.“
The bench then directed the deemed universities to admit the students provisio nally selected in the order of merit, subject to the condition that the student should deposit `10 lakh each at the time of admission towards annual fee for the first year with CENTAC, and subject to other conditions that in the event of the fee determined by the fee committee constituted by the UGC and union HRD ministry being more, they should pay the differential amount.
As for students who have already take admission by depositing the full fee, the bench said if necessary they could claim refund or adjustment of the differential amount, against the fee that might be determined by the committee.
Making it clear that the present order offers only interim relief to students and that their fate would hinge on the final verdict on the is sue, the bench said the future of students, thus, would remain uncertain. To alleviate their suffering, the bench said, “there is immense urgency and we expect the UGC and the union HRD ministry shall forththwith constitute a committee to regulate the fee chargesable by self-financing deemed universities after giving all stake holders adequate opportunity of representation.“
The bench then adjourned the matter to July 14 for further hearing.
As for the fact that the PIL had been filed by an advocate VBR Menon, and not the affected students, the bench said: “This court can take note of the facts pleaded by a public spirited citizen in a PIL and suo motu pass orders to redress the grievances of the student community.“
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