Karnataka Medical College to refund excess MBBS fee: Admission Overseeing Committee

Bengaluru: The MBBS students in state will be able to breathe a sigh of relief as the Admission Overseeing Committee constituted by the state government has shown its determination to ensure that private medical colleges charge only the right fee. Moreover, it will ensure that excess fee if any charged by the medical colleges are rightfully returned to the students.

Bringing its determination into practice, the committee recently directed a private medical college to refund all the excess fee charged by it from the students along with 6% interest The move came following the complaint filed by few parents of the students who sought admission in the JJM Medical College.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported the exorbitant overcharges, made the Admission Overseeing Committee write to the colleges, asking them to submit detailed fee structures. JJM Medical College, Davangere, had replied it collects an additional Rs 1.54 lakh in the first year and Rs 1.31 lakh each in the second, third and fourth years. This is broken up into the library, development, sports, miscellaneous and other fees.

Also Read: Karnataka: Extra Fees up to 2 lakh being charged by private medical colleges

The tuition fee prescribed for government quota students is Rs 77,000 however the college collected Rs 1.54 lakh. Further, under institutional quota, the fee prescribed is Rs 6.32 lakh while the college collected Rs 8.23 lakh. This overcharge paved way for complaints from the parents of the students. The committee after hearing both the parties passed the orders, directed the medical college to refund the excess fee

the New Indian Express quotes the committee order as stating,

"Committee recommends state government to direct Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences to order for refund of excess fee collected by JJM Medical college for the academic year 2017-18, and also second year MBBS students for the academic year 2018-19 with six per cent interest, within 30 days, from the date of receipt of said direction. Failing which, the university may be directed to impose a fine of twice the amount collected, and also make necessary recommendations to the Medical Council of India for withdrawal of recognition and affiliation granted to it. Also, action will be taken under the provisions (prohibition of capitation fee) Act, 1984 and the Karnataka Education Institutions (Regulation of admission and determination of Fee)Act 2006."

Besides, the committee has also pitched against the colleges for collecting an additional Rs 1.13 lakh as the clinical fee by candidates for institutional seats. The fee was allegedly collected by the college as the students have to utilise the facilities in the district government hospital. The college asked the students to bear the cost for this.

The order further reads, "The fee has been collected by the college as the students have to utilise the facilities in the district hospital. The college has told students that they will have to bear the costs."

The committee has also stated that the RGUHS will be directed to impose a fine of twice the amount collected and make recommendations to the Medical Council of India (MCI) to withdraw recognition and affiliation granted to the college.

Established in the year 1965, the JJM Medical College is run by the former minister and senior Congress leader, Shamanuru Shivashankarappa. The college affiliated to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in response to the decision informed Bangalore Mirror that it is yet to receive the direction. Officials from RGUHS told BM that they are waiting for government's direction.

The Admission Overseeing Committee and the Fee Regulatory Committee, which is currenty led by y Justice B Manohar is determined to put an end to the unethical practice of charging way beyond what has been fixed as a prescribed fee.

"If students and parents have a problem regarding their fees, they can approach us and submit a letter. We will pursue the matter. He said that collecting extra fee or money from parents is against the law. "We will inquire about the case and submit a recommendation to the State Government. The government will take action," a senior official from the committee told BM.

The parents and students can approach the committee and submit a letter in case they face any sky-high fee and extra charges by any private medical colleges. If found, the colleges will have to refund the amount along with interest.