Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Punjab and Haryana HC Orders Medical College to Release Student Certificates
Imagine a school that held onto your report cards and diplomas because you owed a little bit of money.
A judge said that's not fair.
The judge told the school they had to give back all the important papers to the students.
The students needed these papers to go to other schools.
The judge also said the school couldn't keep the papers, even if they thought the students owed them money for a short time.
If the school wants to get paid, they have to ask for it in a different way, like through another lawsuit.
But they can't use the students' papers as a trick to get the money.
So, the school has to return the papers right away.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that White Medical College cannot withhold students' original documents over unpaid fees.
Justice Kuldeep Tiwari stated the college has no legal right to retain student certificates, causing significant inconvenience.
Students were transferred to other colleges by the National Medical Commission due to the institution's lack of adequate infrastructure.
The college attempted to justify withholding documents by citing unpaid fees and faculty salary payments.
The court directed the college to hand over all original documents immediately, within seven days.
- Who
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, White Medical College, MBBS students
- What
- The court ordered the medical college to immediately release all original documents of MBBS students, ruling that the institution cannot withhold them due to unpaid fees.
- When
- November 12 order, with transfer finalized after a January 18, 2024 NMC order.
- Where
- Punjab and Haryana High Court, White Medical College and Hospital, Mohali
- Why
- The college was withholding students' original documents as leverage for unpaid fees, despite students having been transferred to other institutions due to the college's lack of adequate infrastructure.
Students
White Medical College
Retention of Certificates
Students
Students' original certificates are their individual property and cannot be retained by the college, especially when it causes prejudice and inconvenience.
White Medical College
The college claimed a right to retain certificates due to unpaid fees for two months of the fourth semester, citing expenses for faculty salaries during that period and a Baba Farid University notice.
Fee Payment After Transfer
Students
Students argued that they had to pay the full semester fee again at their new colleges, making payment to White Medical College for the same period a double payment caused by the college's lack of infrastructure.
White Medical College
The college claimed it had paid faculty salaries during the period of unpaid fees and therefore had a right to recover dues.
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- College
- White Medical College and Hospital, Mohali
- Judge
- Justice Kuldeep Tiwari
- Case Name
- Sukhmanpreet Singh Cheema and Others vs Union of India and Others (CWP-8900-2025)
- Date of Order
- November 12
- Student Batches
- 2021-22 and 2022-23
- Transfer Order Date
- January 18, 2024 (NMC)