Three private universities were fined Tk 10 lakh each by the Supreme Court for admitting students beyond the approved intake limit set by University Grants Commission (UGC).

South East University, Eastern University and Islamia University were asked to give the money to liver transplant units of Birdem General Hospital and Kidney Foundation Hospital.

The universities had admitted more students than permissible to their respective law departments. The apex court, meanwhile, upheld a High Court order which ensures alumni of the law department of the three universities to get registration cards for enrolment tests at the Bangladesh Bar Council.

However, they will be allowed to appear for the test at the Bangladesh Bar Council only after the universities have given the money to the hospitals.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after disposing of three separate review petitions filed by Bangladesh Bar Council seeking necessary order to fine the universities for violating the UGC directives, Additional Attorney General Murad Reza told The Daily Star.

Court sources said the UGC on April 23, 2014 issued a directive saying that the private universities cannot admit more than 50 students in the law faculties per semester.

The Bar Council on October 1 last year issued a notification saying that it will not issue registration cards beyond 50 candidates [LLB Honours], who graduate from the private universities per semester.

Earlier, the Bar Council decided not to give registration cards to the candidates who graduated from 11 private universities, for violating UGC’s directive.

The students of South East University, Eastern University and Islamia University filed separate writ petitions with the HC challenging the USC decision.

Following the petitions, the HC on different dates in September last year directed the Bar Council to allow students of three private universities to fill up their forms, and to give them registration cards so they can appear for the enrolment test under the body.

The Bar Council filed three leave to appeal petitions with the SC challenging the HC directives.

Following the leave to appeal petitions, the SC on October 27 last year upheld the HC directives.

Then the Bar Council filed three separate petitions with the SC seeking review of its October 27 orders and fining the universities for violating the UGC directives.

Advocate AM Aminuddin and Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared for the three universities.