The Madras High Court observed that reducing or waiving the fees in the name of Inter Fee, Library Fee, AIR Cafe Fee, Infrastructural Facilities fee, Class Amenities fee, Sports Fee, Moot Court Fee, Admission application fee, NSS and Youth Red Cross fee, when 30% fee waiver was already provided by the government in the fee is not appropriate.
“The case of the petitioners is that due to the Covid – 19, the said academic activities in the respondent / College has not been commenced so far. Without even providing the basic amenities, permitting the petitioner to access the library and Internet and other infrastructures, the respondent, by the circular has demanded fees for library, internet and other infrastructure facilities etc.”
The above observation were made by the Single-judge bench of Madras High Court, comprising of the Justice B. Pugalendhi while dealing with the petition filed by the petitioner named Gopinath & Ors filed petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records of the Dr. Ambedkar Law University to quash the circular of fee in so far as the Inter Fee, Library Fee, AIR Cafe Fee, Infrastructural Facilities fee, Class Amenities fee, Sports Fee, Moot Court Fee, Admission application fee, NSS and Youth Red Cross fee are concerned, as illegal, arbitrary and devoid of merit and consequentially direct the respondents to revise the impugned circular by waiving / reducing the associated fee.
The Counsels for the respondents contented that considering the situation of the Covid 19, the Government had already granted waiver of 30% fee to the students for the academic year 2020-2021.
The Court held that:
“the government has already awarded 30% fee concession for the academic year 2021, this writ petition is disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.”
The Bench dismissed the present writ petition and all the consequently connected miscellaneous petition with no cost.
Case Details
Case No.: W.P.No. 14032 of 2020
Petitioner: Gopinath & Ors
Respondent: The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors
Counsel for Petitioner: Mr.K.M.Mrithun Jayan
For Respondents: Mr.K.Parameswaran & Mr.V.Vasanthakumar
Quorum: Justice B. Pugalendhi
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