The National Law University, Delhi (NLUD) has increased its admission fee structure for the academic session 2023-24 from Rs. 1,63,500 to Rs. 3,20,000, almost doubling the amount. 

The tuition fee has been increased to Rs. 1,35,000 from Rs. 85,000. The new fee structure includes other heads such as academic services and facilities, student welfare fund, utility services, refundable estate deposits, hostel and mess charges.

The varsity has faced criticism for the increase in fee structure from law students as well as those in the legal profession. 

However, NLUD's Vice Chancellor in-charge Prof. (Dr) Harpreet Kaur justified the fee hike in light of “increased costs and expenses over the last decade.”

“The fee structure of National Law University Delhi remained unchanged since the Academic Year 2013-14. An additional hostel facilities fee of Rs. 20,000 per annum was added from 2018 onwards to cover the operational costs of the newly installed centralised air-conditioning in the halls of residence. The university has been charging a very low fee in comparison to top NLUs. The new tuition fee for new Batch 2023 has increased from Rs. 85,000 p.a to Rs. 1,35,000 p.a. The overall fees payable to the University has been changed to Rs. 3,20,000 from Rs. 1,86,000. The fee of Rs. 3, 20,000/- also includes a sum of Rs.25000.00 security deposit and Rs.10000/- one-time fee. In our opinion, this increase is justified in the light of increased costs and expenses over the last decade,” Prof. Kaur told.

She added that before announcing the revised fee, approval was taken from the University bodies and the same was notified at the time of inviting applications for AILET, 2023 examination.

He added: “Students and Alumni also preferred Writ Petition before the Delhi High Court challenging the introduction of 85% domiciliary reservation which was made a condition precedent by the Delhi Government before release of funds. The Delhi High Court had granted an interim stay in the matter but the funding never came. Under these circumstances, NLUD found itself in acute financial constraints brought about by the inaction of the Delhi Government. In order to keep itself running I feel the fee hike has been introduced.”

“The fee has been doubled, making it harder even for the middle class to take admission into a premier institution like NLU Delhi – for the poor, it will remain a distant dream even if they've worked hard to get their seat. It impacts legal education in a severe way because now, only the privileged class will be able to afford this education, and there won't be a diverse student body that studies law since most lower class & middle class people will be weeded out, because of their inability to pay for legal education. They already couldn't afford to pay for private institutes, now they won't be able to pay for government institutions either,” she added.

A student of NLUD said that the revised fee structure will only hamper deserving kids' chances of pursuing legal education.

Another first year law student of NLU-D said that the fee hike will act as a barrier to both inclusion and diversity, contradicting both the university's and its students' commitments.

“Many current students would not have attended the University if the fee increase had occurred earlier. There is also a growing concern about whether the fee increase will be extended to the current batches. Access to legal education is already inequitable ... The fee increase would make law an even more inaccessible and exclusive profession,” the student said.

NLU-D’s students’ body has also written a representation to the authorities requesting them to roll back the revised fee policy stating that it is a serious impediment to the right to education.