Karnataka High Court today ordered the issuance of notices to Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Director of Medical Education and other respondents in a public interest writ petition pertaining to increase of fees in nursing courses in the state.
The petitioner, Association of Malayali Students studying in Bangalore, has requested for quashing of the notification announcing the fee hike issued by the state government on July 24, 2009.
The petitioner submitted that it was aggrieved by the action of the respondents in granting permission, affiliation and recognition to a number of institutions imparting nursing and other paramedical courses in the state.
According to the petitioner, the earlier fees relating to B.Sc Nursing and General Medicine was Rs 35,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively while the revised fee is Rs 65,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. The petitioner contended that the students would be put to hardship and notification was violative of the Karnataka Education Act.
A division bench, comprising Justices V Gopala Gowda and A S Bopanna, adjourned further hearing of the petition.