Jammu and Kashmir Govt Reconstitutes Fee Fixation Committee for Professional Colleges

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has reconstituted the Committee for Fixation of Fee Structure of Professional Colleges across the Union Territory. The move aims to regulate fees charged by private professional institutions in compliance with directives from the Supreme Court of India.

The Chenab Times has learned that the reconstituted committee will be chaired by retired High Court judge Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir for a term of one year or until further orders are issued. The decision to reconstitute the panel was formalized through Government Order No. 1210-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated July 15. This order supersedes previous government orders concerning the committee’s composition, namely Government Order No. 1120-JK(GAD) of 2024 and Government Order No. 1496-JK(GAD) of 2024.

The reconstitution is in direct adherence to the Supreme Court’s mandate in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 350 of 1993, commonly known as the Islamic Academy of Education case. This landmark judgment provides the framework for regulating fee structures in private professional educational institutions nationwide.

Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir (Retd.) will lead the committee as Chairman. The administrative structure of the committee involves multiple Member Secretaries, reflecting the diverse departments overseeing professional education. The Administrative Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department will serve as the Member Secretary for matters pertaining to health and medical education. Similarly, the Administrative Secretary of the Skill Development Department and the Administrative Secretary of the Higher Education Department will act as Member Secretaries for issues falling under their respective jurisdictions.

The committee’s membership also includes representatives from national regulatory bodies. A representative from the National Medical Commission (NMC), formerly the Medical Council of India, and a representative from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will serve as members. Additionally, the chairman has the authority to nominate a chartered accountant of repute to join the committee.

The Health and Medical Education Department has been designated to provide the necessary administrative and secretarial support to facilitate the committee’s operations. The specified tenure for the committee is one year, or until further directives are received, whichever comes first.

The terms of reference for the committee clearly stipulate that its functioning must strictly align with the Supreme Court’s guidelines established in the Islamic Academy of Education judgment. This ensures that the fee determination process remains consistent with the legal framework designed to balance the interests of both educational institutions and students.

Furthermore, the order, issued by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government M. Raju, IAS, outlines the terms and conditions of service for Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir. These are to be governed by Rule 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Private Schools (Fixation, Determination and Regulation of Fee) Rules, 2022.

The directive has been circulated to key administrative offices, including those of the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and the Registrar General of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The National Medical Commission, AICTE, and all relevant government departments have also been notified for implementation.

The primary responsibility of the reconstituted committee is to meticulously examine and regulate the fee structures of professional colleges within Jammu and Kashmir. This oversight aims to ensure transparency, fairness, and adherence to the legal provisions set forth by the Supreme Court in determining educational fees.

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