50% seats
Patna, August 5, 2025 — In a significant development for medical education in Bihar, the Patna High Court has issued an interim stay on the state government’s decision to impose government-level fees on 50% seats in private medical colleges. The court has also sought detailed responses from the Bihar government and the National Medical Commission (NMC) within six weeks.
The order was passed by a single bench of Justice Anil Kumar Sinha during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Lord Buddha Koshi Medical College and Hospital, Saharsa, along with other private medical institutions from the state.
🔍 The Government’s Controversial Move
The controversy began with a government letter issued on July 29, 2025, mandating that private medical colleges charge government-prescribed fees for 50% seats. This move was part of a broader attempt to make medical education more affordable and equitable in Bihar.
However, private medical colleges argue that such a directive is not just financially unviable but could threaten their very survival.
💬 Petitioners’ Arguments
Represented by Advocate Roshan, the petitioners emphasized the financial repercussions of implementing such a policy. According to them, each private medical college incurs an annual expenditure of around ₹100 crore, which includes faculty salaries, hospital maintenance, infrastructure, and advanced medical equipment.
“If 50% seats are filled at government rates, the only way to recover losses would be by increasing fees for the remaining 50% seats drastically, potentially up to ₹1.5 to ₹2 crore per student,” the petitioners claimed. They warned that this would make medical education unaffordable for most general-category students and defeat the very purpose of equitable access.
Moreover, the petition highlighted the risk of job losses for thousands of faculty and staff working in these institutions due to financial instability.
The colleges insisted that although medical education should ideally operate on a non-profit, service-based model, the ground realities of running high-cost institutions cannot be ignored.
Hiked Fee Structure of different private medical colleges of Bihar for rest 50% seats :
⚖️ The Court’s Interim Relief
Taking into account the gravity of the concerns raised, Justice Anil Kumar Sinha passed an interim order to stay the enforcement of the state government’s July 29 directive. The court has asked both the state government and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to submit their replies within six weeks. The matter will now be taken up for hearing thereafter.
Also Read : UGMAC-2025 : Complete Guide to NEET UG Bihar State Counselling 2025
📌 What’s at Stake?
This ruling puts a temporary hold on a key part of the Bihar government’s proposed fee reform under UGMAC-2025. The decision had been hailed by students and activists as a step toward affordable medical education, especially in a state where private colleges charge some of the highest fees in the country.
However, with this stay, the matter enters a legal grey area. It may also impact the ongoing NEET UG 2025 counselling process in Bihar, where students and colleges await clarity on seat pricing and admissions.
🗣️ What’s Next?
The case has now taken center stage in the debate between accessibility of education versus the financial autonomy of private institutions. The upcoming weeks will be crucial in determining the future framework of medical education in Bihar.
For now, the court’s decision brings a temporary sigh of relief to private colleges, but leaves thousands of aspirants in uncertainty.
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