Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has directed Sri Siddartha Academy of Higher Education (SSAHE), Tumakuru—headed by Home Minister G. Parameshwara—to pay Rs 15 lakh compensation to a student who was denied admission to the MBBS course in 2017, despite less meritorious candidates being granted seats.
A division bench of Justices Anu Sivaraman and Manmadha Rao, while hearing the student’s 2018 plea, held that the denial of admission by Sri Siddhartha Medical College was “arbitrary and illegal” and could not be justified.
The student, who secured All India Rank 195911 in NEET-2017, had submitted all original documents and a demand draft of Rs 15.65 lakh towards first-year fees on September 1, 2017. She later furnished a Bank Guarantee of Rs 52.5 lakh on September 8, after the college demanded it. However, the college refused to accept it, citing that all seats had been filled and the admission list had already been sent to the then Medical Council of India.
Her counsel argued that candidates lower in merit were admitted, while she was left out. The then Chancellor of SSAHE even issued a written assurance of a free MBBS seat for 2018-19 under the management quota, but this promise was not honoured. The student eventually joined another college under management quota by paying a hefty fee.
The Court noted that no regulation or prospectus provision required a full course fee Bank Guarantee before admission. It also rejected SSAHE’s claim that the Chancellor’s assurance was invalid, pointing out that the letter was duly signed by the Chancellor, Principal, and the petitioner, and that the institution never challenged its authenticity before any authority.
Holding the college responsible, the bench observed that the student was not at fault and had complied with requirements within the deadline.
“This is a fit case where compensation should be awarded to the petitioner… we fix the compensation at Rs 15 lakh,” the Court ruled, directing SSAHE to pay the amount within two months of receiving the order.
