The High Court today questioned the legality of the government decision fixing Tk 19.9 lakh as the admission and tuition fees for each candidate of MBBS and BDS courses in private medical colleges across the country.

The court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why the decision should not be declared illegal.

The health secretary, director general of the Directorate of Health Services, vice chancellor of Dhaka University and National Medical College and its governing body have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Jahangir Hossain came up with the rule following a writ petition filed recently by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Eunus Ali Akond challenging the legality of the government’s decision.

The health secretary on October 26, 2014 issued a notice fixing Tk 19.9 lakh as the admission and tuition fees for each of the MBBS and BDS admission seekers in private medical colleges.

In the petition, Akond said the government has no authority to impose any condition for the admission of private MBBS and BDS students. Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council has the authority to impose such conditions.

He also said the government decision is discriminatory for the private MBBS and BDS admission seekers.