Fix fees for deemed universities, panel told

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar on recording the aspect that Sanjay Srivatsava, Retired Professor of Ophthalmology and DDG (M), New Delhi and Dr B Srinivasan, ADG (ME), DTE, GHs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, were recommended to be the members of the Fee Fixation Committee by an order dated July 21, 2017, said, “The fee committee constituted may also look into the fee for MBBS courses in Deemed Universities.” Also, noting that the fee fixation exercise in terms of the order of the Supreme Court was required to be done by the Directorate General of Health Services, the bench said, “The DGHS has already informed the fees as determined by the deemed universities and colleges concerned. 

It is not for this court to go into that aspect since the matter is before the apex court.” The bench then posted the matter for further hearing to August 18.

The petitioner Jawahar Shanmugam had contended that deemed universities offering medical courses were operating with the sole objective of making profits. He said the exorbitant tuition fees charged per annum are against the very principle and objective of running a charitable educational institution. He also noted that fees charged by these deemed universities were beyond the reach of any common man.