Internship Fee Dispute Reaches Supreme Court: HC Order Against Punjab Veterinary Colleges Stayed
Background
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a landmark judgment dated 12 December 2025, held that private unaided veterinary colleges in Punjab were prohibited from levying tuition fees on students during the compulsory internship component of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) programme. The decision was predicated on the interpretation of the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) Regulations and the statutory framework governing private unaided professional institutions.
High Court Judgment
The High Court concluded that the internship period, being a statutory requirement for the award of the professional degree, could not be treated as a fee‑bearing academic semester. It emphasized that imposing additional charges would contravene the principle of free and fair access to professional education enshrined in the Constitution and the VCI Regulations, which mandate that the total fee structure be disclosed at the time of admission.
- Interpretation of VCI Regulations regarding fee structures.
- Constitutional guarantee of equality before law (Article 14) and right to education (Article 21‑A).
- Precedent of University of Delhi v. Union of India on fee regulation.
Supreme Court Intervention
On 23 January 2026, a bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma issued a notice and stayed the operative effect of the High Court order. The Supreme Court observed that the High Court’s interpretation raised substantial questions of law concerning the scope of the VCI Regulations and the statutory authority of the Punjab State Government to regulate fee structures of private unaided professional institutions.
Legal Principles and Issues
The Supreme Court identified several pivotal issues for consideration:
- Statutory Interpretation: Whether the VCI Regulations expressly prohibit fee collection during internship.
- Legislative Competence: The extent of the Punjab State Legislature’s power to enact fee‑regulating statutes for private unaided institutions.
- Constitutional Rights: Balancing the right to education against the autonomy of private institutions to recover legitimate costs.
Implications
The stay preserves the status quo, allowing private veterinary colleges to continue charging tuition fees during the internship pending a full hearing. The decision underscores the Supreme Court’s cautious approach in intervening in matters that intersect educational autonomy, regulatory frameworks, and constitutional guarantees. It also signals to other states that similar fee‑regulation disputes will be scrutinized for compliance with both central professional regulations and constitutional mandates.
Decision
The Supreme Court stayed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order, thereby permitting private unaided veterinary colleges in Punjab to continue collecting tuition fees from students during the mandatory internship period until the matter is finally adjudicated.
Cause Title: Veterinary Council of India v. Private Unaided Veterinary Colleges, Punjab
Citation: Supreme Court of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1234/2025, Order dated 23 January 2026.