The Bombay High Court has refused Indian Law Society’s (ILS) Law College’s request to display its current “other fees” of approximately ₹37,000 during the ongoing Common Entrance Test (CET) admissions process for the 2026-27 academic year. This decision comes as the college challenges a significant fee reduction imposed by the Savitribai Phule Pune University’s (SPPU) Fee Fixation Committee (FFC).
In the case titled Indian Law Society and Anr v. State of Maharashtra and Ors, a Division Bench consisting of Justices R.I. Chagla and Farhan Dubash declined to issue any interim orders supporting the college’s plea. Instead, the court scheduled the writ petition for further hearing on June 29. The Bench suggested that the college could inform the CET Cell of the FFC’s decision to set the “other fees” at ₹4,340. If the college’s legal challenge is successful, they may then attempt to recover the fee balance from students.
Additionally, 14 students from the college, represented by Advocate Pradnya Talekar, have filed an intervention application to be included as respondents in the case. These students argue that any court order resulting from the petition could have a direct financial impact on them.
Significant Fee Reduction Recommended by University Committee
The legal dispute stems from a dramatic recommendation by the SPPU’s Fee Fixation Committee to reduce the “other fees” for ILS Law College’s LL.B. and B.A.LL.B. programs to ₹4,340 for the academic year 2026-27. This recommendation represents an approximate 88% reduction in the “other fees” component and about a 77% decrease in the overall fee structure.
ILS and its law college have filed a writ petition to contest this recommendation, arguing that the fee set by the FFC is “abysmally low” and poses a threat to the institution’s sustainability. The outcome of this legal challenge could have significant implications for the future financial operations of the college.
