Punjab and Haryana High Court Rules Against Charging Tuition Fees During Veterinary Internship

Court Orders Refund of Fees Charged by Private Veterinary College, Upholds VCI Regulations

In a landmark decision, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that private veterinary colleges cannot charge tuition fees during the internship period for veterinary students, aligning with the regulations of the Veterinary Council of India (VCI). The court's decision mandates that the fee collected during this period by a private veterinary college be refunded to the petitioners, marking a significant triumph for students advocating against unjust tuition practices.

The judgment, delivered by a division bench comprising Mr. Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Mr. Rohit Kapoor, addressed multiple writ petitions filed by students of a private veterinary college affiliated with Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. The core issue revolved around the legality of imposing tuition fees during the mandatory internship period, which, according to VCI regulations, should be a period of full-time training accompanied by internship allowances.

The petitioners argued that charging tuition during the internship, a time when they are actively rendering services as provisionally registered veterinary practitioners, amounted to exploitation and unjust enrichment. The High Court concurred, stating that such practices were contrary to the intent and purpose of the VCI regulations, which mandate the payment of internship allowances to compensate for the services rendered by the interns.

The court also highlighted that the practice of charging fees for the internship period contradicted the university's own regulations, as no tuition fees were being charged by the university-run colleges for the same period. This discrepancy further underscored the exploitative nature of the fees imposed by the private college.

While the court refrained from issuing a directive regarding the standardization of internship allowances, it emphasized the need for a competent authority to address the lack of uniformity in allowances, urging petitioners to approach the relevant authorities for policy formation.

This ruling is expected to have wide-ranging implications for private veterinary colleges across India, ensuring that students are not financially burdened during their internship, which is a critical phase of their professional training. The refund ordered by the court is limited to the petitioners involved in this case, setting a precedent for future litigations concerning similar grievances.

Bottom Line:

Charging tuition fee during the internship period for veterinary students is impermissible as it contradicts the intent and object of the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) regulations, and amounts to unjust enrichment and exploitation of interns.

Statutory provision(s): Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984; Veterinary Council of India Regulations, 2008; Article 226 of the Constitution of India; Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Act 2005.

Akin Saroya v. State of Punjab, (Punjab And Haryana)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2821909