| CITATION | Special Leave Petition (C) No. 19953 of 2024 |
| DATE OF JUDGEMENT | September 9, 2024 |
| COURT NAME | Supreme Court of India |
| APPELLANT | Sahil Bhargava and others |
| RESPONDENT | State of Uttarakhand and others |
| BENCH | Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, CJI; J.B. Pardiwala; Manoj Misra, JJ |
Introduction
The case of Sahil Bhargava V. State of Uttarakhand addresses a significant issue regarding the fixation of fees for undergraduate medical courses in India. On September 9, 2024, the Supreme Court issued an interim order concerning the withholding of original documents from medical students due to outstanding fee payments. This ruling highlights the legal complexities surrounding educational institutions’ fee structures and the rights of students in accessing their academic credentials.
Facts
The dispute arose when Sahil Bhargava and other medical students challenged the increase in fees imposed by Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences College. Initially, the annual fee for the MBBS course was set at ₹5 lakh for All India Quota seats and ₹4 lakh for State Quota seats. However, the college raised these fees significantly to ₹13.22 lakh and ₹9.78 lakh, respectively, applying this increase retrospectively from April 2018.
Ninety-one students who completed their MBBS course and one-year internship filed a petition against a decision made by the Uttarakhand High Court on August 6, which required them to pay arrears totaling approximately ₹30 lakh to obtain their original documents. The petitioners argued that without their original certificates, they could not apply for NEET-PG counseling or begin their careers in healthcare.
During the proceedings, senior advocates representing both sides presented their arguments. The college’s counsel emphasized that withholding documents served as a guarantee for collecting outstanding dues. The Supreme Court had previously directed that students could continue their internships upon depositing certain fees, but the High Court’s later decision complicated matters by postponing hearings until March 2025.
Issues
1.Whether the increase in fees imposed by Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences College was justified and lawful.
2.Whether withholding original documents from students due to unpaid fees infringes on their rights to pursue further education and practice medicine.
3.Whether the interim order issued by the Supreme Court effectively balanced the interests of both the students and the educational institution.
4.Whether the timeline set by the High Court for resolving pending writ petitions was reasonable given the urgency of the situation for the affected students.
Contentions of Appellant
In their appeal, Sahil Bhargava and other petitioners contended that the retrospective fee hike was unreasonable and placed an undue burden on them, especially since they had already completed their education and internship under previously established fee structures. They argued that withholding their original documents was detrimental to their future careers and violated their rights as students.
The petitioners sought an immediate resolution to regain access to their original certificates without having to pay exorbitant arrears, emphasizing that they had fulfilled all academic requirements.
Judgment
On September 9, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sahil Bhargava and allowed students to obtain their original documents upon depositing ₹7.5 lakh each as an interim measure. The Court directed that this deposit would enable them to pursue postgraduate studies while ensuring that they would still be responsible for paying any remaining fees based on the final resolution of the ongoing litigation.
The Supreme Court noted that without access to their original documents, students could not apply for further education or secure employment in medical fields, which warranted urgent judicial intervention.
Analysis
This case underscores critical issues surrounding educational policies and student rights within Indian law. It highlights how sudden changes in fee structures can significantly impact students’ futures and raises questions about transparency and fairness in educational institutions’ financial practices.
The Supreme Court’s decision illustrates its role in protecting student interests while also acknowledging institutional financial concerns. By allowing access to original documents under specific conditions, the Court sought to balance these competing interests effectively.
Conclusion
The case of Sahil Bhargava V. State of Uttarakhand serves as a significant example within educational law regarding fee fixation and student rights in India. The Supreme Court’s ruling emphasizes both the need for fair financial practices by educational institutions and the necessity to prioritize students’ access to essential academic credentials.
This ruling not only addresses immediate concerns related to document access but also sets a precedent for future cases involving similar disputes over educational fees and student rights.
References
1.Supreme Court Judgment on SLP (C) No. 19953 of 2024.
2.Legal analyses on fee structures in medical education.
3.Case studies examining student rights in higher education.
4.Judicial commentaries on educational policies and institutional accountability.
5.Precedent cases regarding student welfare and institutional regulations.
This Article is written by Kanika Aggarwal student of Vivekananda Institute Of Professional Studies (VIPS); Intern at Legal Vidhiya.
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