Chennai: Madras high court has warned Sri Venkateshwara Medical College Hospital and Research Centre in Puducherry that it would be constrained to order an income tax department inquiry to examine the withdrawal of income-tax exemptions granted to the institution. The court said this as the college was found demanding fees over and above the limits fixed by the fee committee.The court passed the order on a plea moved by S R Keerthana, seeking a direction to the college to accept her examination fee, issue her a hall ticket and permit her to appear for the Sept 2026 examination, and consequently, direct the college to conduct the petitioner’s practical examination in another institution.“Prima facie, it appears that the college refused to accept the examination fee solely because the petitioner resisted demands for payments over and above the structure fixed by the fee committee. This conduct strongly indicates that the college is not carrying out educational activities in alignment with the objectives of the trust or society under which it is registered; instead, it appears to be operating a commercial business for profit,” Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy said.“In such circumstances, this court is constrained to look deeper into the matter. To that end, appropriate orders shall be passed to implead the competent income tax authorities to evaluate the withdrawal of the income-tax exemptions granted to the institution, and further directions shall be considered to order the university to withdraw its affiliation,” the court said.
