Charge OCI student fee on par with Indian students: SC to IIT Madras

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras was asking the petitioner to pay the same fees as charged from foreign nationals.

The Supreme Court has directed the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras to treat a student belonging to an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) category on par with Indian students concerning the fee charged. A Bench comprising Justices Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari referred to its interim order dated October 27, 2021, which allowed an OCI NEET PG aspirant to appear in the counselling in the general category on par with Indian citizens, while granting him relief. 

“Having heard counsel for the parties, we are of the view that the respondent, IIT Madras, has to consider the applicant/petitioner on par with the Indian citizens with regard to the fee charged in terms of our order dated October 27, 2021, subject to the result of this petition. The application is accordingly disposed of,” the Bench said. 

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Anitha Shenoy submitted that the institute is asking them to pay as per the fee structure set out for foreign nationals. She contended that for the past 12 years, OCI students have been paying the same fee as their Indian counterparts which have been reversed in 2021 without any notice. 

The counsel for the petitioner had earlier submitted that IIT Madras was asking the student to pay the same fees as charged from foreign nationals and referred to the order passed by the apex court allowing OCI candidates to attend NEET counselling in the general category on par with residents here. 

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