The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has proposed a significant reduction in the fee structure for students attending the Indian Law Society’s (ILS) Law College in Pune. This recommendation, put forth by the university’s fee fixation committee, suggests a decrease of approximately 88% in the ‘Other Activities Fees’ from ₹36,460 to just ₹4,340 per student for the academic year 2026-27.
This recommendation was brought to light through an application submitted by Krushnakant Sathe, General Secretary of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and highlights several fee components being reduced to zero. These include the Debating Fee, which was previously ₹580, and fees for Physical Fitness/Swimming/Gymnasium, Cultural Activities, Maintenance of Equipment, Research Activities, and Games & Recreation, previously set between ₹720 and ₹2,750.
Furthermore, other fee categories have seen substantial reductions, such as the Moot Court Fee, which has been decreased from ₹3,850 to ₹1,000, and the E-learning Equipment Fee, reduced from ₹5,500 to ₹250. Similar reductions apply to Print Resources and Electronic Resources fees, and the Legal Aid Fee.
The Vidhivat Legal Consortium, representing ILS student Mayur Suhas Garud in a legal challenge before the Bombay High Court regarding alleged unauthorized fee collection, revealed these details during a press conference in Pune. The revised total annual fee, after considering all components, is estimated at approximately ₹9,515, down from ₹41,635 in 2024-25, marking a 77% reduction in the overall financial burden on students.
This fee restructuring follows a dispute initiated by Garud, who, through a Right to Information (RTI) request, discovered that ILS collected ₹29.64 crore over five years under unapproved fee categories. Of this, only ₹4.09 crore was reportedly used for student welfare. This discovery led Garud and Sathe to file a complaint with the Charity Commissioner.
Subsequently, Garud filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court, claiming that ILS collected ₹1,04,863 from him over several academic years under unauthorized fee categories, violating the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 1987. He sought a refund of this amount.
In February, a bench comprising Justices RI Chagla and Advait M Sethna resolved the petition after the State promised to address Garud’s complaint within a week. The Directorate of Higher Education later directed ILS to refund the disputed amount with interest. However, ILS contested this directive in the High Court, arguing that it was issued without proper jurisdiction and due process.
The State, agreeing to recall the order, assured the court it would provide ILS with a copy of the inquiry report, conduct a personal hearing, and issue a new order within four weeks from May 7. The fresh order is still pending.
The Vidhivat Legal Consortium emphasized that the fee revision reflects a significant success in their advocacy efforts. However, they noted that despite the university’s documentation of the revision, ILS has yet to inform students about the changes for the upcoming academic year. They highlighted that ILS’s fees have historically been higher than those of other SPPU-affiliated law colleges, and the new structure aligns more closely with peer institutions.
ILS Law College Principal Deepa Paturkar declined to comment on the matter, citing ongoing legal proceedings. It is important to note that while Garud’s writ petition has been disposed of, the awaited administrative order from the State government remains pending.
