The Orissa High Court has stepped into a controversy surrounding medical admissions in the state, seeking an official response from the Odisha government regarding a last-minute revision of fee structures for MBBS and BDS courses. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has challenged the move, arguing it unfairly impacts meritorious students from economically weaker backgrounds for the 2025-26 academic session.
Court Notice and Key Allegations
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman issued formal notices to the state's skill development department and the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) chairman. The bench has directed the respondents to file their replies, scheduling the next hearing for January 20.
The PIL was filed by the Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangha, represented by its president Basudeb Bhatta. While additional government advocate Debashis Tripathy appeared for the state, advocates Bibhuti Bhusan Choudhury and Samir Mishra represented the petitioners.
The Core of the Controversy: A Sudden Fee Revision
The petition seeks to quash notifications dated August 16, 2025, through which the state revised the fee structure for certain professional medical colleges. It also demands a declaration that admissions should be governed strictly by the original OJEE counselling guidelines issued on July 31, 2025.
The crux of the grievance lies in the timing. Students had already appeared for the NEET (UG) 2025 exam on May 4 and were proceeding with admission plans based on the fee structure clearly outlined in the July 31 counselling guidelines. These figures were crucial for their choice filling, seat locking, and financial planning, which often involves securing education loans.
However, just as the counselling process was about to begin, the Skill Development and Technical Education (SDTE) department issued the fee revision notification on August 16. On the same day, the OJEE chairman issued a second amendment to the counselling guidelines, with the final schedule published on August 18.
Alleged Violations and Steep Hike
The petitioners have leveled serious allegations against the state's action:
- Arbitrary Fee Hike: The revision reportedly led to a steep increase of around 78% in private medical college fees, without any prior notice, transparency, or consultation with stakeholders.
- Financial Impact: The fee was allegedly increased from the range of Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 6.5 lakh to a new range of Rs 8.5 lakh to Rs 11.5 lakh.
- Statutory Violations: The petition contends that the move violates the Odisha Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2007, relevant Supreme Court directions, and statutory provisions.
- Contravention of NMC Rules: It highlights that the National Medical Commission (NMC), in a public notice dated July 11, 2025, had mandated colleges to disclose approved fee structures at the time of entering seat matrix data. Any undisclosed fees were to be treated as unauthorized, a rule the state's last-minute change appears to bypass.
The court's intervention has brought significant relief to aspiring medical students and their families, who now await the state government's formal explanation on January 20. The outcome could set a crucial precedent for transparency and fairness in the fee fixation process for professional courses in Odisha.
