MP: 7 private medical colleges to retain fee structures this year

Bhopal: Fee structure of seven private medical colleges has not been changed by the Appellate Authority of Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC) for the current academic year. However, the body has asked the AFRC to invite fresh proposals to decide the fee structure of the two academic years, 2017-18 & 2018-19.

Sukhsagar Medical College (Jabalpur), Modern Institute of Medical Science (Indore), Amaltas Institute of Medical Science (Dewas), Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (Indore), Sakshi Medical College and Research Centre (Guna), RD Gardi Medical College (Ujjain) and Chirayu Medical College (Bhopal) had appealed to the appellate authority against uniform fee structure in the absence of non-uniformity in expenses and source of funding.

The Admission & Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC) had decided to fix Rs 5.32 lakh as fees for established medical colleges and Rs 5 lakh for new medical colleges on September 2. The appellate authority on Nov 17 announced that the AFRC’s order of fees structure for 2016-17 can’t be set aside as most of the students had already taken admission in the appellant colleges.

“But fee fixed by AFRC for 2017-18 and 2018-19 are set aside on various grounds. AFRC had fixed a uniform fee of three established medical colleges without considering the significant differences in the financial standing and sources of funding,” said the order.

The AFRC has been directed by the appellate authority to determine fees for academic sessions 2017-18 & 2018-19 by obtaining fresh fee proposal by December 31. The Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee will release a fee fixation order after considering all the financial statements by February 28.