In a big blow to students, the Supreme Court on Monday, in an interim order, allowed self-financing medical colleges in Kerala to charge students ₹11 lakh as uniform annual fee. Besides the base admissions fee of ₹5 lakh, students have been allowed 15 days’ time to furnish bank guarantees for the balance ₹6 lakh.
A Bench led by Justice S.A. Bobde said that the interim fee structure will continue only till the Justice S. Rajendra Babu Committee finally decides on the fee structure.
The High Court had permitted the colleges to fix the base admission fee of ₹5 lakh and ask the students to execute a bond for payment of the remaining ₹6 lakh. The High Court had ordered the completion of the allotment of seats in self-financing medical colleges by August 31. However, the managements, which had moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order, argued that students could drop out midway and leave them in dire straits with no way to make good the bonds executed by the students.
Attorney General K.K. Venugopal argued that over 50% of the students admitted in these colleges belong to the SC/ST and backward categories, and they have no means to provide bank guarantees for ₹6 lakh, that too in the next 15 days.
Last year’s fee
Justice L. Nageswara Rao, the puisne judge on the Bench, noted that only 5% of the students may be without means to provide the bank guarantee. The court said ₹11 lakh was fixed because last year’s annual fee was around ₹10 lakh. Justice Rao asked the State to offer financial help to the 5% students who may need its assistance.
“We are inclined to extend the bank guarantee to all colleges. Can the government provide financial support for the students?” the Bench asked. However, the State expressed reluctance, saying these were self-financing colleges. “Then let the students bear the burden,” the Bench responded.
The Bench clarified that if the Justice Rajendra Babu panel finally decides on a fee lower than ₹11 lakh, the colleges would have to accordingly make adjustments in their fee structure.
