Chennai | September 11, 2026
The Madras High Court has warned Sri Venkateshwara Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Puducherry that it may order an Income Tax Department inquiry into the institution’s tax exemptions after finding that the college allegedly demanded fees above limits fixed by the fee committee.
The warning came during a petition filed by S R Keerthana, who sought directions for the college to accept her examination fee, issue her hall ticket and allow her to appear for the September 2026 examination. She also sought an order requiring the college to conduct her practical examination at another institution.
Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy said the court had formed a prima facie view that the college refused to accept the examination fee because the petitioner resisted demands for payments beyond the fee structure approved by the committee. The judge said the conduct appeared inconsistent with the educational objectives of the trust or society under which the institution was registered.
“Prima facie, it appears that the college refused to accept the examination fee solely because the petitioner resisted demands for payments over and above the structure fixed by the fee committee,” the court said, according to the report. It added that the conduct “strongly indicates” that the college may be operating as a commercial business for profit rather than carrying out educational activities aligned with the objectives of the registered trust or society.
The court said the matter required closer examination and indicated that appropriate orders could be passed to implead competent Income Tax authorities. Those authorities would be asked to evaluate whether the tax exemptions granted to the institution should be withdrawn.
The court also indicated that further directions could be considered regarding the college’s university affiliation. The observations therefore place both the institution’s fee practices and its regulatory status under judicial scrutiny, although the reported proceedings do not constitute a final order withdrawing tax exemptions or affiliation.
The immediate issue before the court is the petitioner’s access to her examination. The case raises questions about whether a student can be denied examination-related services for refusing payments that allegedly exceed the fee structure fixed by the competent fee committee. The report does not provide the college’s response to the allegations or identify the university concerned.
The court’s next steps will determine whether Income Tax authorities are formally added to the proceedings and whether any direction is issued concerning the institution’s affiliation. The reported matter remains pending before the Madras High Court.
