In pursuance of the recommendations of a Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted in June this year, the Punjab Government has decided to regulate the fee in Private Health Sciences Universities to check the undue burden caused on students as a result of exorbitant charges levied by such institutions.The State Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Thursday gave approval to amend the Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fee and Making of Reservation) Act 2006 by promulgating an Ordinance.A Cabinet Sub Committee, comprising the then Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Higher &Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, had made this recommendation in the interest of the students.The cabinet today approved amendment in the 2006 Act in order to bring private health sciences universities under its purview. With this amendment, the fee fixed by the state government would be applicable to private universities also.Pertinently, the Act of 2006 basically stipulates that the Government can prescribe a fee structure for private medical institution running health science course and distribute their seats between the Management and Government Quota. As per the Act, the fee for medical colleges and other health institution is fixed by the state government from time to time. The fee for MBBS course in private institutions is Rs.2.20 lakh per annum for open quota/government quota (50%) seats and Rs.6.60 lakh per annum for management quota seats.It may be recalled that from 2012 onwards, many private medical colleges were constituted in private health sciences universities and they challenged the fee fixed under the 2006 Act in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on the ground that it was applicable to private health sciences institutions and not to the private universities. The High Court, vide its order dated May 1, 2019, had accepted their plea and held that private health sciences universities are not covered under the 2006 Act.