The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued an important decision in favour of students enrolled in private medical colleges, upholding the fee restrictions imposed by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
In a significant 28-page judgment, Justice Khalid Ishaq dismissed petitions filed by private medical colleges challenging the regulatory fee cap. The court ruled that PMDC has the legal authority to determine medical college fees and that private institutions cannot charge students beyond the approved limits without the council’s permission.
The court also directed the concerned colleges to refund excess fees to students within 30 working days.
Under the judgment, the University of Faisalabad’s medical college must return more than Rs. 841,000 to each affected student, while FMH College Lahore has been ordered to refund over Rs. 741,000 per student.
The decision is being considered an important development for medical students and their families, who often face significant financial pressure due to the high cost of private medical education in Pakistan.
Read Also : PM Chromebook Scheme 2026: Can Private School Students Apply? Latest Update
لاہور ہائی کورٹ نے نجی میڈیکل کالجز کی جانب سے طلبہ سے اضافی فیسیں وصول کرنے کے معاملے پر اہم فیصلہ سناتے ہوئے پاکستان میڈیکل اینڈ ڈینٹل کونسل (PMDC) کی جانب سے مقرر کردہ فیسوں کی حد برقرار رکھی ہے۔ جسٹس خالد اسحاق نے 28 صفحات پر مشتمل فیصلے میں نجی میڈیکل کالجز کی درخواستیں مسترد کر دیں اور حکم دیا کہ طلبہ سے وصول کی گئی اضافی فیسیں 30 ورکنگ دنوں کے اندر واپس کی جائیں۔ فیصلے کے مطابق یونیورسٹی آف فیصل آباد کے میڈیکل کالج کو ہر متاثرہ طالب علم کو 8 لاکھ 41 ہزار روپے سے زائد، جبکہ ایف ایم ایچ کالج لاہور کو فی طالب علم 7 لاکھ 41 ہزار روپے سے زائد واپس کرنا ہوں گے۔ عدالت نے واضح کیا کہ نجی میڈیکل کالجز PMDC کی منظوری کے بغیر مقررہ حد سے زیادہ فیس وصول نہیں کر سکتے۔ اس کے علاوہ عدالت نے طلبہ کے خلاف کسی بھی قسم کی انتقامی کارروائی سے خبردار کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ خلاف ورزی کی صورت میں توہین عدالت کی کارروائی ہو سکتی ہے۔
LHC Upholds PMDC Fee Cap for Private Medical Colleges
The Lahore High Court rejected petitions submitted by private medical colleges against the fee restrictions introduced by PMDC.
The judgment was issued in a petition filed by the University of Faisalabad through Imran Nazir and others.
While deciding the matter, the court clarified that PMDC has the authority to regulate and determine the fees charged by private medical and dental colleges.
The court also made it clear that private institutions cannot independently increase their fees or collect amounts beyond the approved limits without obtaining the council’s approval.
According to the judgment, medical education cannot be treated simply as a commercial business because it involves an important public interest.
The court further observed that the fee restrictions do not violate the Constitution of Pakistan.
Private Medical Colleges Ordered to Refund Excess Fees
One of the most important parts of the LHC decision is the direction to return additional amounts collected from students.
The court accepted petitions filed by students and ordered the concerned private medical colleges to refund the excess fees within 30 working days.
The refund amounts mentioned in the judgment are as follows:
| Medical College | Refund Per Student |
|---|---|
| University of Faisalabad Medical College | Over Rs. 841,000 |
| FMH College Lahore | Over Rs. 741,000 |
These refunds will provide financial relief to affected students and their families.
Students enrolled in the concerned institutions should follow official college communications regarding the refund process and any instructions for receiving their money.
Read Also : PM Chromebook Scheme 2026: Can Private School Students Apply? Latest Update
PMDC Has Authority to Regulate Private Medical College Fees
The Lahore High Court also explained the regulatory role of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council in controlling fees charged by private medical institutions.
According to the ruling, PMDC has the authority to determine the applicable fee limits for private medical and dental colleges.
This means that private institutions cannot charge students additional amounts beyond the approved fee structure without the council’s permission.
The court upheld the fee cap and rejected the argument that such restrictions were unconstitutional.
The judgment reinforces the importance of regulatory oversight in medical education and aims to prevent students from facing unauthorised financial demands.
Court Warns Colleges Against Taking Action Against Students
Another important aspect of the judgment concerns the protection of students who approached the court against excessive fee collection.
The LHC warned private medical colleges against taking retaliatory action against students for raising complaints or seeking legal relief.
The court stated that any action taken against students in response to the proceedings could lead to contempt of court proceedings.
This direction is particularly important for students who may be concerned about possible pressure or unfair treatment after challenging additional fee demands.
Private Colleges Had Previously Approached PMDC
The judgment also referred to the fact that the concerned colleges had previously approached PMDC themselves.
The court observed that institutions that had already approached the regulatory authority could not subsequently challenge the fee restrictions in the manner presented before it.
This was another important consideration in dismissing the petitions filed by private medical colleges.
The ruling has also been declared a judicial precedent, making it an important reference for similar disputes involving private medical college fees.
Read Also : Punjab Winter Vacations 2026: Schools Holiday Schedule and Latest Update
What Does the LHC Decision Mean for Medical Students?
The decision is expected to have important implications for students studying in private medical and dental colleges.
Here are some key points students should understand:
- Fee regulation: PMDC has the authority to determine private medical college fee limits.
- Refund orders: The concerned colleges must return excess fees within 30 working days.
- Student protection: Colleges have been warned against retaliatory action.
- Constitutional position: The court upheld the legality of the fee cap.
- Future disputes: The judgment has been declared a judicial precedent.
Students who believe they have been charged fees beyond the approved limits should keep their fee receipts, payment records and relevant college documents.
They can also seek guidance from PMDC regarding applicable fee regulations and the procedure for raising complaints.
Final Words
The Lahore High Court’s decision is an important development for private medical college students in Pakistan. By upholding the PMDC fee cap and ordering refunds of excess amounts, the court has reinforced the regulatory authority of the council over private medical education.
The direction to refund more than Rs. 841,000 per student at the University of Faisalabad Medical College and over Rs. 741,000 per student at FMH College Lahore is particularly significant.
The 30-working-day refund deadline and warning against retaliatory action also provide important protections for affected students.
Students and parents should follow official announcements from their respective colleges and PMDC for further information about the implementation of the judgment and refund arrangements.
1 thought on “LHC Orders Private Medical Colleges to Refund Up to Rs. 841,000 to Students”