MDS Seats In Govt Colleges 'Prestigious': Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge To Fee Hike From 12K To 48K In Goa Dental College

The Supreme Court today (September 30) refused to entertain a petition challenging the fees hike by the Goa Dental College for MDS Course. The Court orally said that the increase from 12,000 Rs to 48,000 Rs was not excessive considering how prestigious government college seats are amidst the academic competition. 

The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra heard the matter.

The petitioners were challenging the decision of the Bombay High Court which upheld the fee hike noting that ample provisions in the college's prospectus allowed for such an increase in fees. The High Court also noted that fees was only increased for the first time since 2001. 

The Counsel appearing for the petitioner informed the bench that the petitioners were from the batch 2020 and had done their internships during the Covid period. Considering the same, it would not be appropriate for the authorities to increase their fees. 

The Counsel added that initially the fees were increased from 12,000 Rs to 1,00,000 Rs. Only upon the protests by the students, when the matter reached the Chief Minister, the College reduced it to Rs 48,000. 

The CJI however interjected to remark that being a State-run college, the amount of 48,000 Rs cannot be considered unjustified, since there is excessive competition over getting such seats amongst the candidates. 

"48,000 for govt college, dental seat is not a disproportionate amount, these are very prestigious seats. After students protested. it was brought down to Rs.48,000," CJI said.

Speaking from his experience, the CJI added that even National Law Universities were marginally increasing fees every year. 

"I am the Chancellor now for several NLUs such as the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, what we are doing is giving marginal fee hike every year"  

Dismissing the petition, the bench remarked - "48000 Rs. is not a big amount, we will leave it to that"  

Case Details : PRAVEEN KUMAR AND ORS. Versus THE STATE OF GOA AND ORS. SLP(C) No. 22831/2024 

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