Students Cannot Continue Paying Nominal Government Fees in Private Institutions: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has allowed private medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh to recover the deficit amount from MBBS students who had paid fees at government-prescribed rates despite studying in private institutions.

The Court observed that the fees paid by students were only a “pittance” compared to the actual cost incurred by private colleges in providing medical education.

Upholding the colleges’ right to recover the balance amount, the Court held that private institutions cannot be forced to bear the financial burden indefinitely.

The judgment came in a dispute concerning admissions and fee structures applicable to students allotted seats in private medical colleges through the state counselling process.

[Soumya Ranjan Panda & Ors. v. Subhalaxmi Dash & Ors.]