Supreme Court bars 37.5% mid-course fee hike in West Bengal colleges

The case concerns whether self-financing professional colleges in West Bengal can increase fees for students admitted in the 2023-24 academic year after the start of the course, following a government notification that raised the fee ceiling.

Who it concerns: Appellants: Dr. B.C. Roy Engineering College & Anr.; Respondents: The State of West Bengal & Ors. (including students); Bench: Not stated in the provided text.

What the court decided

• The Court upheld the decision of the Calcutta High Court that fees determined at the commencement of the course cannot be varied midstream.
• The Court held that fee fixation committees must be given institutional status and perform their duties with efficiency, expertise, and integrity.
• The Court stated that fee determination involves balancing the interest of students in fee certainty with the interest of self-financing HEIs in securing adequate resources.

Also in the document

• The Court noted that the college's revised fee structure resulted in a 37.5% increase in fees payable by students.
• The Court observed that the 2023 Notification was issued after a seven-year hiatus in fee revision exercises.
• The Court affirmed that fee fixation committees perform an important public function and their actions are subject to review.