Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has proposed a revised 'Other Activities Fees' structure at Rs 4,340 for LLB and BA-LLB courses across its affiliated colleges. This proposal comes in response to complaints from former students of ILS Law College, including Krishnakant Sathe and Mayur Garud, who sought refunds of what they termed 'excess fees' charged under unapproved heads.
Documents shared by Vidhivat Legal Consortium (VLC) with the media on Wednesday indicated that the proposed changes are reflected in the fee structure for the 2026-27 academic year. In an official communication to Sathe on April 25, SPPU stated that the proposed fee structure for LLB (3 years) and BA-LLB (5 years) courses at ILS Law College for 2026-27 was being provided along with the reply.
The communication, issued by the university's PG admission section, noted that a committee recommended capping the 'Other Activities Fees' component for these courses at Rs 4,340 under the proposed fee fixation structure. A similar communication was also sent to ILS Law College, signed by M V Rasve, deputy registrar of the university's PG admission section.
An SPPU official confirmed that the proposed fee structure is part of the university's annual fee fixation process for law courses. Such proposals are sent to colleges every year. VLC representatives highlighted that the revised structure shows a difference of approximately Rs 32,120 (or nearly 88%) in the 'Other Activities Fees' component compared to Rs 36,460 listed in the 2024-25 ILS student receipts under comparable categories.
The issue pertains to fees charged under the 'Other Fees' category for LLB and BA-LLB courses and is part of a matter pending before the Bombay High Court involving former ILS students Garud and Sathe. Comparative charts shared by VLC members revealed substantial differences across several fee heads. For instance, the 'E-learning Equipment' component was Rs 5,500 in earlier receipts but is recommended at Rs 250 in the revised structure. Print resources charges were Rs 3,850 previously versus Rs 50 now. Moot court fees were Rs 3,850 earlier compared to Rs 1,000 in the revised structure.
Efforts to reach ILS Law College principal-in-charge Deepa Paturkar for comment were unsuccessful, as phone calls and text messages went unanswered. Vice-principal Tejaswini Malegaonkar declined to comment on the matter.
