Subhash Jindal/Chandigarh
In a significant relief to students pursuing the Veterinary Livestock Development Diploma (VLDD) course, the Haryana Government has reduced the fee structure for private VLDD institutions for the academic session 2024–25 & 2025-26, in compliance with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The controversy arose after the State Government substantially increased the VLDD course fee for the academic session 2024–25, raising it to ₹1.80 lakh per annum for State quota seats and ₹2.50 lakh per annum for Management quota seats in private institutions.
Student challenged the hike in CWP No. 30598 of 2024, titled “Gourav vs State of Haryana and Others” Through Advocate Sardavinder Goyal, contending that the increase was arbitrary, excessive, and imposed without proper consideration of actual costs or regulatory guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court. High Court directed the Haryana Government to refer the matter to an appropriate committee, to re-determine the fee within two months in accordance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court.
Student`s Counsel appeared before the Committee constituted for re-fixation of fee raising concern by Relying on landmark judgments of the Supreme Court that private institutions can not be allowed to commercialization of education, no increase permissible within 3 years. Private colleges were also heard by the Committee.
Revised Fee Structure
Pursuant to the High Court’s directions, the matter reconsidered by the Fee Fixation Committee, which has now recommended a substantially reduced fee structure for private VLDD colleges:
State Quota: (Earlier fee Rs. 1,80,000/-) Tuition Fee: ₹1,03,500 Other Charges (as per LUVAS norms): ₹42,770 Total Fee: ₹1,46,270 per annum
Management Quota: (Earlier fee Rs. 2,50,000/-) Tuition Fee: ₹1,72,500 Other Charges (as per LUVAS norms): ₹42,770 Total Fee: ₹2,15,270 per annum
The revised fee structure supersedes the earlier notification dated 21 August 2024 and will remain applicable for the academic sessions 2024–25 and 2025–26.
Refund of Excess Amount
Importantly, the government has directed private VLDD institutions to refund the excess amount already charged from students admitted during the academic sessions 2024–25 and 2025–26, in accordance with the High Court’s order. Colleges have also been instructed to submit compliance reports to the State Government within two months.
There are total 17 private colleges in State of Haryana.