MBBS Fee Fixation: UGC constitutes 11 member panel for deemed university fee structure

Chennai: The 11 member national level fee regulation committee to fix MBBS course fee for deemed universities across the country, has finally been constituted by the University Grants Commission after the Supreme Court gave a directive for the same.

The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice P T Asha were informed of the development on Tuesday, by the UGC 's Standing Counsel, PR Gopinathan after a PIL filed by advocate VBR Menon came up for another hearing.

The appointed panel is headed by New Delhi AIIMS former director RC Deka and includes other names like Dr. O P Kaira, V-C,UP; Mahesh Verma, director, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi; Ajay S Chandanwale, dean, BJ Medical College, Pune; Saroj Chooramani Gopal, former V-C, King George Medical University, S K Ray, former additional secretary, union ministry of HRD; Pt BD Sharma University of Health Science, Haryana; Sanjay Shrivastava, former Professor of Ophthalmology; Dr B Srinivas, Union Ministry of Family Welfare; Joint Secretary of UGC, and two more members to be nominated by the MCI.

The constitution of the panel has come as fast work indeed, as it follows 18 days after the MBBS fee for deemed universities in Tamil Nadu was capped at Rs. 13 lakh by the Madras High Court, which had simultaneously made clear that it would remain in force until the UGC formed the committee and fixed a fee.

A similar capping at Rs. 10 lakh took place on June 16, 2017, for deemed universities, Puducherry when the court passed a similar order. The UGC at this time was mandated by the court to form the committee by June 30 and establish a fee structure in the coming four months reported TOI.

However, last week the tables were turned once again when the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order and permitted the Chennai-based Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute to collect an annual tuition fee of Rs 22 lakh, this year as well. The apex court, though also made it clear that it would be in force until the UGC committee finalizes the fee.

The UGC Standing Counsel, PR Gopinathan on Tuesday reiterated that the UGC's 11-member committee would give a listening ear to all with interests at stake including parents and students while fixing the fee payable for MBBS courses offered by deemed universities. The first bench meanwhile, ordered the committee to come up with a fee structure by October 31.

In a medical dialogues story done a few days ago, it was reported that the Supreme Court's recent order allowing Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute to charge a fee of Rs. 22 lakh, that it levied in 2017, till the time that the UGC fee committee finalizes the fee structure, has created an upheaval of sorts among others.

Read also: Sri Ramachandra Medical College allowed to keep the fee at Rs 22 lakh: SC Interim Order