LAHORE:Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared illegal collection of arbitrary fee from the students by private medical colleges. Justice Khalid Ishaq of LHC issued 28-page decision on the petitions related to collection of fee by private medical colleges.

The court rejected all the three petitions filed by private Medical colleges fee and approved 12 petitions from students. The court declared legal the powers of PMDC for fixing maximum limit of private medical colleges fees.

The court declared that private medical colleges are bound to rules and regulations of PMDC in determining and recovering fee. According to decision of Justice Khalid Ishaq PMDC has legal powers for monitoring and fixing maximum limit of fees of private medical colleges.

It has been said in the decision the private medical colleges cannot receive from students the fee beyond fixed limit. The additional money which has been recovered will have to be returned or adjusted in next fee.

The court ordered to uphold all the three notifications of PMDC regarding fees.

The court maintained in its decision that the private medical colleges will have to provide justification for increase in fee and audited and financial returns to PMDC . The business freedom of private medical colleges in determination of fees is not above the legal regulatory powers of PMDC.

The court ordered to wrap up the students claims regarding return of additional fee or its adjustment within 30 days.

According to decision the respective colleges will have to take action on students claims for return or adjustment of additional fee.

The court maintained the students cannot be subjected to victimization on raising the complaints regarding fees.

The contempt of court proceedings can be initiated on violation of the decision.