Pvt engg, medical colleges can't hike fees: SC

The Supreme Court has ruled that private professional colleges cannot increase fees midway through a course, except in exceptional circumstances, to provide relief to students and families facing rising higher education costs. Colleges must disclose the total fees before admission, and any increases post-enrollment are only permitted in unusual situations such as unforeseen expense hikes, according to the ruling.

The court struck down a 37% fee increase on BTech students at Dr BC Roy Engineering College in West Bengal, which also introduced a new development fee. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe emphasized that financial uncertainty could burden students and families, stressing the need for transparency in fee structures.

The court pointed out that professional education demands a significant financial commitment, with professional course fees being 711% higher than general courses. While acknowledging the contributions of self-financing institutions, the court stressed adherence to a predictable fee structure and the creation of a system to protect students from financial uncertainty.

The decision, which does not eliminate all fee revision possibilities, underscores the importance of regulatory oversight and transparency for engineering, medical, and other professional programs.