Rs 11.9 lakh MBBS fee at Adesh commercial, unethical: Govt Informs Court

Chandigarh: The exorbitant fee being charged by Adesh University, Bathinda for its medical courses has been opposed by the Punjab government in its reply to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

With all the seats of the private university this year are falling under the management quota, with the university charging Rs.11.9 lakh for the MBBS course along with an annual hike of 10%.

The High Court has sought a reply from the captain Amarinder Singh led government and the university about the latter's plea against the February notification of the state medical education department. The notification seeks to encompass all private medical institutes under the ambit of its 2006 law regulating fee and seats.

Earlier, 50 per cent seat sharing in these colleges had been introduced by the state government through its February 6th notification this year. The notification spoke of 50% seat sharing by all private medical colleges under the government quota and an annual fee cap for this quota at Rs.2.2 lakhs.

CMC, Ludhiana along with Adesh University and Shri Guru Ram Das Medical Colleges were seen defying the February 6 notification of the government soon after its issuance.

However, soon after the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) waived off the 50 per cent government quota seats in these colleges, making all seats management quota seats.

Read Also: MBBS Admissions in Punjab: NO government quota at these 3 medical colleges

Comparing the much wanted's fee structure with other courses in Adesh University, the department of medical education's reply stated, "For MBBS, the fee is Rs 11.9 lakh a year, for BDS Rs 1.65 lakh a year and, for courses such as anatomy and physiology, it is nil (for Indian students)," adding that, "This shows the fee structure of Adesh University is unethical and has been fixed as per demand and supply and is purely commercial, " reports HT.

"It (the university) cannot be allowed to fleece the students by charging exorbitant fees." the government body reply stated

The High court has also received an appeal from the department for independent auditors to scrutinize the university's records

All private institutions like the Sri Guru Ramdas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research(SGRD)Amritsar , Christian Medical College (CMC) Ludhiana and Adesh University came under the umbrella of the Punjab Private Health Sciences Educational Institutions (Regulation of admission, fixation of fee & making of reservation) Act, 2006 as per the notification issued in February this year.

With a difference of opinion existing between the health minister Brahm Mohindra and Secretary Kumar on the notification, the file began a movement from the Chief Minister's office to Chief Secretary to the legal remembrance (LR).On June 28, it reached the AG office, a week before counselling was to begin on 5^th July.

Highlighting the High Court ruling in favour of Adesh University in 2014, AG Atul Nanda expressing his opinion said that the 2006 Act applied to institutions, not universities. Since the HC ruling was never challenged by the state, the 2006 Act was not applicable to it or the SGRD, whose Act states its fee will be fixed as per the 2006 Act but not the number of seats.

It was in 2012 that Adesh Medical College was converted into a university by an Act.