GMC Kannur MBBS Fee Row: Medicos launch Indefinite Strike after being prohibited from attending classes
Pariyaram: The fee row at Government Medical College Kannur (GMC Kannur) has reached distressing lengths as the MBBS students are now reported to have gone on an indefinite strike demanding concession in the fees after they were prohibited from attending their classes by the institute authorities.
Medical Dialogues has been reporting about the case at Pariyaram Medical College, now called GMC Kannur; where the students had earlier moved the HC seeking new fee structure. MBBS students alleged that the medical college was not charging as per the fee structure directed by the state government for all its medical colleges.
The medical college was taken over by the government after the institute got engulfed with monetary issues. With the government takeover, it was announced that the fees will be charged as per the Government fees structure and more merit seats would be ensured for the students. The students could study in all seats in the college by paying government fee. Earlier, 50 per cent seats were in management quota at a higher fee.
However, later the MBBS students, who had got admission under the merit quota, challenged the fee structure at Government Medical College Kannur.
They stated that they need to pay the fee only as per the fee structure payable by such students in the Government colleges. They submitted a representation to the Principal, but no action had been taken in the matter. Hence, they moved the court and sought a declaration that being a state-run medical college, the institute is entitled to collect tuition fee from the petitioners only at the rate fixed for similar institutions run by the Government in the state.
In addition, they urged the HC bench to issue directions compelling the medical college to collect tuition fee from them from the academic year 2019-20 till the courses are complete on a par with the tuition fee fixed for other Government Medical Colleges. It was pointed out that no provision had been made in the Ordinance relating to the fee that is payable by the students who are already admitted.
The bench noted that it was for the Government to consider whether any fee concession is to be extended to the students who had already been admitted under the merit quota. Therefore, it was only appropriate that the Government considers the matter in the proper perspective.
Read Also: GMC Kannur MBBS Fee Row: Court directs Medicos to submit Representation to State
Now, recently, the students undergoing courses in the MBBS, BDS, Bachelor of Pharmacy, PharmD, nursing, postgraduates, and house surgeons, who joined in 2018 were prevented from entering classes. The students have said that they were barred from attending their classes without issuing any official notice or any letter seeking the higher fees, reports the Hindu,
A student informed the Hindu that the Supreme Court had rejected the fee structure as determined by the Rajendra Babu Committee. However, the college authorities were forcing the students to pay the same fees in violation of the verdict. The government too had promised that it would not collect the higher fees.
Dr N Roy, Principal, Kannur Medical College, said the college had demanded the fees after a decision to that effect was taken by the Minister for Health, Health Secretary and the Directorate of Medical Education.
He said the decision to collect the higher fees was based on the precedent at the Ernakulam Cooperative College which too was taken over by the government. The fees were collected in a similar way, he said, adding that he had been following the instructions given by the government.
Medical Dialogues has been reporting about the case at Pariyaram Medical College, now called GMC Kannur; where the students had earlier moved the HC seeking new fee structure. MBBS students alleged that the medical college was not charging as per the fee structure directed by the state government for all its medical colleges.
The medical college was taken over by the government after the institute got engulfed with monetary issues. With the government takeover, it was announced that the fees will be charged as per the Government fees structure and more merit seats would be ensured for the students. The students could study in all seats in the college by paying government fee. Earlier, 50 per cent seats were in management quota at a higher fee.
However, later the MBBS students, who had got admission under the merit quota, challenged the fee structure at Government Medical College Kannur.
They stated that they need to pay the fee only as per the fee structure payable by such students in the Government colleges. They submitted a representation to the Principal, but no action had been taken in the matter. Hence, they moved the court and sought a declaration that being a state-run medical college, the institute is entitled to collect tuition fee from the petitioners only at the rate fixed for similar institutions run by the Government in the state.
In addition, they urged the HC bench to issue directions compelling the medical college to collect tuition fee from them from the academic year 2019-20 till the courses are complete on a par with the tuition fee fixed for other Government Medical Colleges. It was pointed out that no provision had been made in the Ordinance relating to the fee that is payable by the students who are already admitted.
The bench noted that it was for the Government to consider whether any fee concession is to be extended to the students who had already been admitted under the merit quota. Therefore, it was only appropriate that the Government considers the matter in the proper perspective.
Read Also: GMC Kannur MBBS Fee Row: Court directs Medicos to submit Representation to State
It has been maintained by the protesting students that while 2019 batch is paying Rs 25,000 a year, the ones who got admission in the merit seats in 2018 have to pay around Rs 5.6 lakh and special fees of Rs 40,000.
Now, recently, the students undergoing courses in the MBBS, BDS, Bachelor of Pharmacy, PharmD, nursing, postgraduates, and house surgeons, who joined in 2018 were prevented from entering classes. The students have said that they were barred from attending their classes without issuing any official notice or any letter seeking the higher fees, reports the Hindu,
With no concession in the fees and being debarred from entering their classrooms, the students have resorted to strike. The protesters argued that they would not pay the fees until the government came out with the fee structure for the academic year.
“We were asked to remit this year’s fees before December 31 and the authorities said we would not be permitted to attend the class from January 1, so we launched this indefinite agitation on January 3,” the students who lead the agitation informed TOI adding that the protest would be intensified. They also said that there is a concern about attendance and whether they would be able to appear for the examination.
A student informed the Hindu that the Supreme Court had rejected the fee structure as determined by the Rajendra Babu Committee. However, the college authorities were forcing the students to pay the same fees in violation of the verdict. The government too had promised that it would not collect the higher fees.
Meanwhile, the medical college authorities have decided not to allow medicos to write the exam until they pay the fees.
Dr N Roy, Principal, Kannur Medical College, said the college had demanded the fees after a decision to that effect was taken by the Minister for Health, Health Secretary and the Directorate of Medical Education.
He said the decision to collect the higher fees was based on the precedent at the Ernakulam Cooperative College which too was taken over by the government. The fees were collected in a similar way, he said, adding that he had been following the instructions given by the government.
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