Patna high court stays Bihar govt order on fee cap for private medical colleges, state wanted half of private seats at subsidised rates

By- Dev Kumar PandeyPATNA: The Patna high court on Tuesday stayed the operation of a letter issued by the state's health department on July 29, which mandated that all private medical colleges in Bihar fill 50% of their MBBS seats at the same admission fee rates prescribed for state-run govt medical colleges.The stay order was passed by a single bench of Justice Anil Kumar Sinha during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Lord Buddha Koshi Medical College, Saharsa.Counsel for the petitioner, Raushan, informed the court that on July 29, the joint secretary of the state health department had issued a letter to the controller of examinations of the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB), directing it to admit and register students for 50% of MBBS seats in private medical colleges at the regulated fee structure applicable to govt medical institutions. This directive was issued in reference to a health department resolution dated March 14, 2023.Raushan further submitted that the said resolution of the state govt had already been put on hold since Aug 12, 2023. Therefore, he argued, private medical colleges cannot be compelled to charge the subsidised fees meant for govt colleges. "It would adversely affect the maintenance of infrastructure, faculty and staffing pattern in such private institutions," he said.