The students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law have moved to High court, challenging the notice dated 27 June, 2020 issued by the University. In the said notice University has directed the student to pay the fee of the upcoming semester (August to December) Rs 1.35 lakhs by July 10, 2020, with Rs 1000 per day as of late fee, in case of failure to meet the due date. 

The petitioner students of RGNUL (Aditya Kashyap and Ors v. State of Punjab and Anr) alleged that the demand for the full amount of fees is as rational and arbitrary.

They contended that in addition to the tuition fee of Rs 55000 fees of Rs 41000 is being charged under the head like Amenities fees, Campus Development Fund, Moot Court fees, Examination fee and Library fee even when the university is not open owing to the ongoing pandemic.

The petitioner also alleged that no online classes were conducted as falsely notified by the University regarding the online classes. They also alleged that Bar Council of India rules, requiring minimum class hours for a semester under Chapter II rule 10 of the Rules of Legal Education, 2008 where are not complied with.

It is arbitrary and unjust to charge fees for amenities and services like a moot court which are suspended amid the pandemic, the petition stated- the notification dated 14th May 2020 issued by the Punjab government directing private unaided schools not to charge any fee other than tuition fee during the lockdown period where online classes are conducted, was also adduced by the petitioners.

They argued that the said notification must be extended to their University of the petitioner as the same is neither private nor unaided and prayed that the 20 June, 2020 order issued by the University be quashed. The plea also prayed for the direction that the unutilised part of the few charged for summer semester be adjusted accordingly  in the upcoming semester.

In reply to above, the counsel for RGNUL submitted before the court that no late fee was being charged from students.

The matter was taken up on the urgent basis on Friday by Hon'ble  Mr Justice B S Walia and is listed for the final argument for 22 July, 2020.

This News has been reported by Rohan Pratap Singh, who is a Law Student at Trinity Institute of Professional Studies, New Delhi and presently the Student Coordinator at Law Blog Cell of MyLawman & edited by Samreen Ahmed, Research Assistant, Research & Innovation Department (ARIL), MyLawman