The best business in this country seems to be running a professional college. Come June and the nightmares of parents increase in number and severity.

Tamil Nadu government had promptly appointed a Committee to go into the question of fee structure in Professional Colleges. The Committee says it met several educationists, college authorities and parents. It has almost doubled the fee for management seats in Private Engineering Colleges to Rs 62,500.

Of course, Ponmudi, the Minister for Higher Education says that consultations were held with the stakeholders before announcing the increase. In Andhra the fee is Rs 84,500 , in Karnataka, 1.25 lakhs and in Kerala, 90,000, according to the Minister.

Well, that cannot be the basis for doubling the fee in Tamil Nadu. Several Academicians of repute have severely criticised the hike. They say there are no reasonable grounds for the new fee. This is bound to affect the student community. Many Colleges do not have the required infrastructure. The new fee is high by any stretch of imagination, argue the academicians.

The PMK founder Dr Ramadoss set the tone for the anti-fee-hike campaign. He has charged that the Government is unable to check the 'daylight robbery' that the private engineering colleges are indulging in. He has demanded the publication of the list of persons the Committee has had consultations with. He has threatened that his party would lead the fight against the fee-hike.

Though it might appear political in nature, his views cannot be ignored. The Government should not stand on prestige to reconsider its order regarding the fee structure.