Kerala: Govt to move SC against self financing medical colleges

Thiruvananthapuram: The exorbitant fee being charged by the private medical colleges much against what was agreed upon with the state government, is in all likelihood going to lead the state government moving a petition in the Court. Rs. 4.4 lac was decided as the annual fee for Karuna Medical College and Kannur Medical College. The managements have managed to work out a raised figure of Rs. 7.5 lac and 10 lac respectively through the High Court.

The KMCT College, Kozikode which earned approval in the final stages of the MBBS admissions being carried out, managed to fix Rs. 10 lac for other seats, besides those of the NRI quota. Rs. 18 lac is what the college would charge for its NRI quota admissions. The government’s contention remains that colleges collect fee decided upon with the committee. KMCT had earlier decided to fill seats through common counselling conducted by the state government.

KK Shylaja, Health Minister was of the opinion that reduction of tuition fee through mutual agreement between the management and government was proving to be a difficult task. According to Anil Kumar Vallili, colleges would have to pull down their shutters, if fee was lowered further, from what had been fixed with the government.

A student from Kozhikode has moved the High Court alleging confusion over granting of the state’s medical seats . The student in her petition has claimed, that the higher options mentioned in the admission applications, were never considered, and spot allotments, merely, helped self financing institutions. The student has brought this complaint to the notice of the Chief Minister, Health Minister and an opposition leader as well.

“There was an opportunity to shift from a self-financing college to a government college or same course in another self-financing college during the spot admission, held on September 24. However, on the second spot admission on September 30, this rule was changed, and students were prevented from shifting to another self-financing college for the same course,” said Subaida Jahafar, who moved the HC on Friday. She also claimed that students with lower ranks got admission into Government colleges, where as she lost out due to technical errors committed during the spot admission.

“The government failed to inform about the changes in the rules of the spot admission. This is a serious failure. Even the Supreme Court has ruled that the management seats also should be prioritized on merit,” she said.

She also alleged that lessening the number of regular admissions and wrapping up the admission process through spot allotments, merely helped Self financing medical colleges.

“This is injustice done to the students who scored higher ranks and forcing them to stick to the self-financing colleges, where they first sought admission,” Ms Jahafar added.