MGR Medical University fails to pay land dues of Rs 87 crore: Authorities threaten lock and seal

Chennai: Unable to pay Rs 87.45 crore dues despite three reminders, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University is likely to land in trouble as the Revenue Department officials are all set to take legal action after September 15 if the varsity fails to make the due payment. For now, the Department has intimated the state-run university that it will issue a lock and seal notice if the dues are not settled.

Confirmation to this effect has been given by the officials who recently visited the MGR Medical University campus to remind the varsity administration about the unpaid amount of Rs 87.45 crore for the 10-acre property in Guindy.

The MGR Medical University was granted the property in 1992 through an order issued by the state government that allowed the varsity to build an administrative block and a library on the land provided to the varsity. Presently, the building on the university premises is used for various purposes including paper evaluation for all courses.

Also Read: HC Directs MGR Medical University to use Double Evaluate 2 Biochemistry papers of MBBS students

However, the MGR Medical University has failed to pay for the property it has been using for more than a decade now in spite of three reminder notices. The first notice for a payment of Rs 87.45 crore to the government was issued by the state revenue department in 2012. This was followed by two more notices, the latest being served in the month of July this year.

The MGR Medical University has not responded to the officials as to when the dues will be settled. Commenting on the same, the officials at the Guindy tahsildar office state that there have been audit objections and the officials have no intent to continue this, therefore the university has been apprised about the legal intervention after failing to meet the order as per the said date.

"The university was hoping to get an exemption but no official representation was made. If the health department pays the dues towards affiliation and permissions, the university will be able to settle the dues. No bills have been raised so far and there are no file notings on any of the letters," a senior Administrative official told

TOI.

In June, Medical Dialogues had reported about the Madras High Court order where the bench had declared 9 PG medical courses offered by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University as "illegal and ultra vires" as they did not have the approval of the apex medical regulator, Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Central Government.

Also Read: 9 PG medical courses of Dr MGR Medical University declared ILLEGAL by High Court

This is the only Medical University in Tamil Nadu which grants affiliation to new institutions under Government or Self-financing in Medical, Dental, Indian Medicine/Homoeopathy & Allied Health Sciences (Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy etc.) and awarding degrees under a single umbrella to maintain uniform and high standards of education.