HC grants interim relief to dental college students

Mumbai, Mar 6 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today granted interim relief to nine students of a dental college and allowed them to appear for their examinations without paying the difference in fee following its hike last year.

However, the students have been directed to file an undertaking that they would pay the balance fee in case they lost the case. They have also been asked to provide surety for the balance amount.

Arguing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Kshitij Vyas and Justice Chandrachud, counsel for the students M M Vashi said Sachin Kaldhore and eight others had secured admission in the Vasantdada Patil Dental College, Miraj (Sangli), in the academic year 2002-2003.

The Supreme Court in its ''T M Pai Judgement'' in October 2002 had ruled that private colleges could hike their fees. Mr Vashi said the judgement was passed after the petitioners had already been admitted to the college and, so, the judgement was not binding on them.

The dental college had hiked the fee from Rs 9200 to Rs 88,000 in May 2005, he informed the court.

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