LHC Upholds Fee Cap for Private Medical Colleges, Orders Refunds

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has dismissed petitions filed by private medical colleges challenging the fee cap imposed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

Justice Khalid Ishaq of the LHC issued a 28-page judgment on petitions filed by the University of Faisalabad, through Imran Nazir, and others.

The court ruled that the PMDC has the legal authority to regulate medical college fees. Private medical colleges cannot charge fees at their own discretion without approval from the council.

The judgment also held that the fee cap does not violate the Constitution. It observed that medical education cannot be treated merely as a commercial business.

Allowing petitions filed by students, the court ordered the colleges to refund excess fees within 30 working days.

Under the ruling, the University of Faisalabad's medical college must refund more than Rs841,000 to each affected student. FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry in Lahore must return more than Rs741,000 per student.

The court observed that the colleges had previously approached the PMDC themselves. Therefore, challenging the fee cap after seeking the council's intervention was not justified.

The judgment also warned the colleges against taking any retaliatory action against students.

It said any such action could lead to contempt of court proceedings.

The ruling reinforces the PMDC's regulatory authority over private medical college fees and provides relief to students who were charged amounts exceeding the prescribed limit.