Student Cannot Claim MBBS Degree Benefits from Fees Allegedly Linked to Maoist Funds: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has upheld the decision to withhold the MBBS completion and degree certificates of a medical graduate after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seized more than ₹1.13 crore paid towards her medical education, allegedly tracing the funds to activities linked to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

A Division Bench comprising Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and G. Arul Murugan dismissed the appeal filed by a Bihar-based medical graduate who sought a direction to release her certificates without requiring repayment of the fees.

The student had completed her MBBS course and compulsory internship at Chettinad Academy of Research and Education. However, during an NIA investigation into an alleged Maoist funding network, the agency seized the entire fee amount paid to the institution, claiming that the money originated from funds extorted for the banned organisation.

The Court noted that although the student was not an accused in the criminal case, the NIA's charge sheet named her brother and uncle as key operatives involved in raising funds for CPI (Maoist). Consequently, the Bench held that the student could not claim an equitable right arising from funds allegedly linked to unlawful activities.

Holding that the institution had effectively received no legitimate payment after the seizure, the Court ruled that it could not be compelled to release the certificates. The Bench observed that the student may either challenge the seizure before the competent court or repay the fees through lawful means to obtain the certificates.