Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court recently directed the Maharashtra govt to clarify whether general category students in private medical colleges should receive stipends at par with those studying in govt institutions. These students were denied admission to govt colleges due to implementation of the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) quota, despite meeting eligibility criteria, forcing them to enrol in private medical colleges.
The court set April 9 as the deadline for the state’s response. A division bench comprising Justices Avinash Gharote and Abhay Mantri was hearing a petition filed by Ayush Pawade and 13 others, whose tuition fees are covered by the state govt. Petitioners argued they receive only ₹4,000 per month as a stipend, significantly lower than the ₹18,000 paid to their counterparts in govt medical colleges. In the last hearing, the court issued a ₹10 bailable warrant against the Fees Regulating Authority (FRA) chairman for failing to appear in the case.
The petition, filed through advocate Ashwin Deshpande, argues that interns at private unaided institutions receive disproportionately low stipends compared to those in govt-run and grant-in-aid colleges. The petitioners seek uniformity in stipends across medical, dental, ayurveda, unani, and homeopathy colleges, in line with govt directives.
Senior counsel Akshay Naik, representing NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences (NKPSIMS), argued that the petitioners’ tuition fees and stipends are already covered by the govt. He contended that increasing stipends to match those of govt college students would impose an additional financial burden, which could ultimately fall on students due to the regulated fee structure. “This would effectively mean students paying their own stipends, which is not a practical solution,” he submitted.
FRA counsel Anup Gilda clarified that the Authority has a limited role in the matter. He stated private colleges are free to implement govt resolutions, including the one issued on February 27, 2024, and National Medical Commission (NMC) notification of November 18, 2021. However, he emphasized the final decision rests with colleges and the state govt.
Assistant government pleader (AGP) AM Joshi assured the court he would obtain the state’s position on the issue and present it at the next hearing. The court directed the state to clarify its stance, noting these students were originally entitled to govt college admissions.
On July 18, 2024, TOI reported that while the petition was pending, the Maharashtra govt directed private medical colleges to ensure a uniform stipend of ₹18,000 per month for interns, aligning with the stipend structure in govt medical colleges.
