High Powered committee to inspect Kannur Medical College for MBBS course

Kannur: After it's much controversial de-recognition last year, the Kannur Medical College administration is all determined to resume the MBBS course at its institute.

According to recent media reports, a high-power committee from the Kerala University for Health Sciences (KUHS) will examine the facilities at the medical college before January 15 to ascertain whether the medical college is adequate to run MBBS course or not.

A few months ago, the Supreme Court had directed probe on the 2016-17 admissions at the Kannur Medical College. The investigation was ordered to find whether that batch's students were forced to pay capitation fee to the medical college management.

Medical dialogues has extensively reported about the case which ensued after a complaint registered by one of the medical college's MBBS student to the Admission Supervisory Committee, seeking reimbursement of the fee collected by the college management as well as alleging that it had collected Rs 20- 50 lakh from MBBS medicos, besides collecting bank guarantees to secure future payments from them.

Taking cognizance of the complaint, the committee had asked the college management to pay half the amount by July 27 to the complainants. When the case came up for hearing on July 25 before the Committee, an adjournment was sought by the College Principal which was rejected by the committee.

Repeated directives by the committee were given to the college authorities, which resulted in failed compliance on the part of the college, towards refunding of the fee to the MBBS students. This, in turn, resulted in the committee recommend withdrawal of affiliation from Kannur Medical College to Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS).

In response to the committee's order, the Principal, Kannur Medical College filed a petition with the Kerala High Court alleging that the committee's order was illegal and had not been heard of before the issuance of the order.

However, not to their relief, the HC noted the college's failure in compliance with stipulations for granting MBBS admission and charging fees and accordingly dismissed its petition.

Read Also: Withdrawal of Affiliation of Kannur Medical College: Kerala HC dismisses plea

Disappointed, the college moved the Supreme Court with an SLP challenging the HC's decision. However, the apex court disposed of the petition imposing a Rs 1 crore fine to the medical college for admitting students in gross violation of norms. Besides this, the college was directed to return back the amount paid by the medicos in double.

Read Also: Kannur Medical College told to Refund Double the Capitation Fee paid by MBBS students

A number of conflicts followed the apex court's order. The college had stated that they paid back Rs 20 lakh to the students for Rs 10 lakh paid by the students.

It stated that the amount as per the apex court's order has been returned to all the students.

However, about 20 students are yet to give it in writing that they had received the amount. The rest had given in writing on stamp papers that they had received the amount in tune with the SC directive and have no complaints against the management.

The government appointed Supervisory Committee had submitted the report with SC stating that the court order was not obeyed. The Committee found that the students had paid Rs 30 - 40 lakhs at the time of admissions. So the court ordered for a probe regarding this issue.

The SC had stated, "Since the time for admissions has expired, the college won't be allowed to make any fresh admissions this year."

The Admission Supervisory Committee, by SC's order, had to find out the amount paid by the MBBS students as capitation fees at the time of admissions and also if the medical college repaid twice the amount to the students

But for this year, the medical college management wants to leave no stone unturned to resume back the UG medicine course.

Deccan Chronicle reports that the Medical Council team would visit the college to assess the improved facilities, faculty and other credentials only if the health varsity authorities give the green signal for the medical college.

Mathrubhumi reports that the medical college management had claimed that they took Rs 10 lakhs fees and Rs 1.65 lakh as a special fee. Parents, who had earlier alleged to have paid Rs 50 lakh fees, were found to approve the management's claim by then.

Allegations are surfacing that those who have paid more than Rs 11.65 lakh obtained the repayment Rs 23.30 lakh in cheque and the balance in other ways.

Read Also: 11 MBBS Admissions at Kerala Medical College declared VOID by AFRC