Supreme Court asks Salman Khurshid to look into the 'hard reality' of capitation fee

NEW DELHI: Taking note of "hard reality" of very high capitation fee taken by private medical and engineering colleges for admission, the Supreme Court has asked former Law Minister Salman Khurshid to suggest a mechanism to end the menace for all in education sector.

The apex court expressed concern over the prevalence of capitation culture in the country despite its various orders declaring the practice illegal and asked Khurshid to file a report after conducting an in-depth study.

"We take judicial notice of the hard reality that charging of very high capitation fee is very much prevalent in spite of the said specific observations/directions issued by this court", the bench said referring to various judgements in which it was held that capitation fee cannot be permitted even by private unaided institutions in medical as well as engineering courses.

"We are, therefore, of the view that we should get appropriate support to find out whether this practice can be put to an end to by getting a detailed report based on an in-depth study," a bench comprising justice F M I Kalifulla and Shiva Kirti Singh said. "We, therefore, appoint Salman Khurshid, learned senior counsel, as an amicus curiae in these matters to examine this issue and come forward with his report and suggestions," it said.