Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 05-11-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: Government of Puducherry (represented by Under Secretary to Government (Health), Chief Secretariat Health II) and the Fee Committee for Private Professional Colleges in Puducherry.
  • Respondents: Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre and Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College, each represented by their Chairman.
  • The writ petitions (W.P. No. 15159 of 2026 and W.M.P. No. 51240 of 2026) were filed under Article 226 seeking clarification of a judgment dated 29‑09‑2026 and to quash a circular dated Nil March 2026 (reference no. 983/Health/H5/2026).
  • The petitioners argued that the respondent college was not participating in the counselling process as directed by the Court’s interim order dated 08‑09‑2026, adversely affecting many students, and that the college was claiming “Deemed to be University” status.
  • Respondents contended that they had participated in UG counselling, admitted students, and produced a letter dated 22‑09‑2026 indicating they had been accorded “Deemed to be University” status.
  • Petitioners submitted a letter dated 30‑10‑2026 clarifying that the “Deemed to be University” declaration was only a conditional approval, subject to the final outcomes of W.P. No. 15159 of 2026 and W.M.P. No. 16354 of 2026.
  • The Court observed that the respondent college does not fall within the ambit of the Pondicherry Private Professional Educational Institutions (Provision of Reservations, Admission of Students and Fixation of Fees) Regulations, 2006, and therefore must collect fees only as fixed by the designated Fee Fixation Committee, in line with the Supreme Court’s principles in Islamic Academy of Education & Another Vs. State of Karnataka & Others.
  • Consequently, despite not being governed by the 2006 Regulations, the college must comply with the fee fixation directives and participate in both UG and PG counselling processes.
  • Respondents indicated they would comply with the order and that an appeal has already been filed against the 29‑09‑2026 order.

Final Outcome

  • The Court clarified that the filing of an appeal does not operate as a stay; the respondent college must continue to participate in the ongoing UG and PG counselling processes.
  • The college is required to collect only the fees fixed by the Fee Fixation Committee and must adhere to those fee structures until a fresh fee structure is issued.
  • The conditional “Deemed to be University” status remains subject to the final determinations in the related writ petitions and does not exempt the college from fee compliance.

Topics: Higher Education Regulation, Fee Fixation