Unnati Ganeshrao Shinde v. The State Of Maharashtra And ORS.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 18908 OF 2024 Prakash Shikshan Mandal Uran Inslampur.
...Petitioner.
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Others.
...Respondents.
With WRIT PETITION NO. 12151 OF 2025 Dr. Prathamesh Deepak Dhnuriye & Others.
...Petitioners.
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Others.
...Respondents.
With WRIT PETITION NO. 3596 OF 2025 Dr. Unnati Ganeshrao Shinde.
...Petitioner.
Versus
The State of Maharashtra and Others.
...Respondents.
------ Mr. V. M. Thorat and Mr. Harshvardhan Patil i/b Mr. M. V. Thorat for the Petitioner in WP No. 18908 of 2024 and for the Respondent No. 3 in WP 12151 of 2025. Mr. Ishaan Kapre for the Petitioner in WP No. 12151 of 2025. Mr. Rui Rodrigues for the Respondent-Fees Regulating Authority in all the petitions.
Mr. Siddheshwar B. Kalel, AGP for the Respondent-State in all the petitions. ------ Coram : Madhav J. Jamdar & Pravin S. Patil, JJ.
Date : May 8, 2026.
P. C. :
1.
Heard Mr. Thorat, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioner in WP No. 18908 of 2024, Mr. Kapre, learned Counsel appearing for the 1 of
Petitioner in WP No. 12151 of 2025, Mr. Rodrigues for the Respondent - Fee Regulating Authority and Mr. Kalel, learned AGP for the RespondentState. 2.
In all these matters, subject matter is the ad hoc fees of post graduate course for the academic year 2024-2025 in the educational institution conducted by Prakash Shikshan Mandal. It pertains to the post graduate course in medical science.
3.
It is the contention of the Petitioner in Writ Petition No. 18908 of 2024 i.e., the educational institution, that it is the right of the educational institute to decide the ad hoc fees. On the other hand, it is the contention of the Petitioners in Writ Petition Nos. 12151 of 2025 and 3596 of 2025, i.e., the writ petitions filed by students, that the ad hoc fees are to be determined by the Fee Regulating Authority. Even the contention of Fee Regulating Authority is also the same. 4.
Perusal of the record shows that institution has on 28th February 2025 already forwarded the proposal to the FRA, for determination of fees for the academic year 2024-25. Proposal is accompanied by the audited accounts and balance sheet indicating the operational cost. 5.
The Petitioner-Prakash Shikshan Mandal, the educational institution in view of the rival contentions, agrees to accept the ad hoc fees fixed by the FRA, which is at Rs.10.5 lakh and requests that proposal submitted by the college be decided expeditiously. Accordingly, all 2 of
these petitions are disposed of by consent of the parties by passing following order :
-: O R D E R :- (1) Petitioner-Educational Institute, i.e., Prakash Shikshan Mandal shall accept the ad hoc fees of Rs.10.5 lakh for the academic year 202425, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of all the parties. (2) The respondent-Fee Regulatory Authority is requested to determine the fees of Petitioner-college for the academic year 2024-25 in accordance with the law on or before 31st August 2026. (3) It is expressly made clear that this court has not examined merits and all contentions on merits are expressly kept open. (4) The students are at liberty to communicate to the college, their requirements of documents for obtaining educational loan and requesting for providing necessary information including the quantum of ad hoc fees. If such request is received, the college shall comply with the same within 7 days of its receipt. (5) The students shall pay fees as per the said demand, i.e., fees of Rs.10.5 lakh, without prejudice to the rights and contentions of both parties, within a period of one month after the receipt of demand. 6.
Writ petitions are disposed of in above terms with no order as to costs.
[Pravin S. Patil, J.] [Madhav J. Jamdar, J.] 3 of