Cochin University Of Science & ... vs Thomas P. John & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of differential fee structures for NRI students in a B. Tech. program, emphasizing that the University, as a statutory body, must act fairly and base its decisions on reasonable facts. The Court found that the University failed to provide a rationale for charging higher fees to certain batches, violating principles of fairness and equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. The Court upheld the High Court's decision, ruling that the petitioners were entitled to the same fee structure as their counterparts from the years 1995-96 and 1999-2000, thereby ensuring parity among students.