Students admitted prior to government takeover constitute a distinct class ineligible for prospective fee reductions.

The petitioners are MBBS students admitted to Rajah Muthiah Medical College & Hospital (RMMC), Chidambaram, between the academic years 2018–2021

RMMC was originally a private institution under Annamalai University, a private university established by a 1928 Statute

In 2013, the State took over Annamalai University via the Annamalai University Act, 2013, making it a State University, though RMMC continued to operate on a self-financing basis

Following litigation and a Supreme Court directive, a Fee Fixation Committee fixed RMMC's fees significantly higher than government colleges (approx. ₹5.44 lakhs), which the Supreme Court later capped at ₹4,00,000/- (par with private unaided colleges) as an interim measure

On 27.01.2021, the government formally took over RMMC, renaming it 'Government Medical College, Cuddalore,' and subsequently issued G.O.Ms.No. 45 (01.02.2021) fixing the annual fee at ₹13,610/-

The petitioners challenged G.O.Ms.No. 204 (26.10.2021), which clarified that the reduced fee applied only prospectively to students admitted from 2021-2022 onwards, while petitioners (admitted earlier) remained liable for ₹4,00,000/- per annum

The court applied the principle of prospective application of administrative orders and the doctrine of reasonable classification under Article 14 of the Constitution

It relied on the Annamalai University (Second Amendment) Act, 2013 regarding the university's status and the Dr. MGR Medical University Act regarding affiliation changes

The court further referenced the Supreme Court’s holding in Aamira Fathima v. Annamalai University (2018) regarding the distinction between self-financing and government institutions

The court further referenced the prospective nature of college affiliations

The court reasoned that a fundamental shift occurred in the college’s status and affiliation starting from the 2021-2022 academic year.

Students admitted prior to 2021-2022, like the petitioners, joined RMMC when it was affiliated with Annamalai University and accepted the terms of the prospectus, which prescribed a fee of ₹4,00,000/-

The court noted that these students will continue to be governed by Annamalai University regulations and will receive their degrees from that university

Conversely, students admitted from 2021-2022 onwards are admitted to the renamed 'Government Medical College, Cuddalore,' which is affiliated with Dr. MGR Medical University

The court found that G.O.Ms.No. 45 and G.O.Ms.No. 122 explicitly intended for the new fee structure to be prospective

Furthermore, the court rejected the plea of parity with Perundurai Medical College, noting that the latter had always been affiliated with Dr. MGR Medical University and was under a different administrative history

Thus, the court held that the two sets of students constitute distinct classes, and the classification is based on an "intelligible differentia" related to the timing of the government's total administrative and financial takeover

It held that the petitioners are not entitled to the reduced fee of ₹13,610/- and must pay the fee of ₹4,00,000/- as per their original admission terms

The court concluded that there was no arbitrariness or unfair discrimination because the transition of the institution into a full-fledged government college was prospective and tied to a change in university affiliation

All connected miscellaneous petitions were closed, and no costs were awarded