Medical Education : Andhra Pradesh High Court Enhances Tentative Fees By 10% For 2023-24 Due To Inflation

The Andhra Pradesh High Court in a writ petition filed by Andhra Pradesh Private Medical and Dental Colleges Management against fee structure, considered the factor of inflation and enhanced the tentative fee for present academic year 2023-2024 by 10% from last year.

The writ petitions are filed challenging the notification dated 30.06.2022 issued by Andhra Pradesh Higher Education and Regulatory Commission for fixing the fee in respect of professional colleges within the state of AP. The petitioners contend that the Respondent has not considered some heads for inclusion of expenditure on part of institutions while fixing the fees.

On the other hand, Government Pleader for Higher Education, Government Pleader for Medical, Health and Family Welfare submitted that any stalling or interference of the proposed counselling for MBBS (UG) course pursuant to notification may hamper the Academic year and seats availability for the students of the State. Furthermore, the fees for present academic year 2023-2024 is not finalized and fees for last year 2022-2023 would be considered tentatively and once the entire procedure is finalized, the fee fixed by Regulatory Commission would be the final fees.

However, the Petitioners submitted that the fee which was already fixed for academic year 2022-2023 should be enhanced at minimum rate of percentage by taking inflation factor and suggested 15% enhancement upon the fee for the year 2022-2023 which would be considered tentatively for the present academic year 2023-2024.

The Court on perusal of the material in record opined as “this Court is of the considered view that the factor of inflation is an admitted factor by the Government as well as other public/financial institutions, the enhancement of fee at the reasonable rate is mandatory due to increase in price raise and expenditure.”

In view of the above, the Court enhanced the existing fee of the academic year 2022-2023 at the rate of 10% for present academic year 2023-2024. The directions were given to the Respondent to notify the enhanced fee for the present academic year 2023-2024 at the rate of 10% as a tentative fee till fixation of final fee as per AP Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission Act, 2019 and Rules thereunder.

Cause Title: Andhra Pradesh Private Medical and Dental Colleges Managements versus Andhra Pradesh Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission