SC fixes Kerala self financing medical college fee at Rs. 11 lakh

Thiruvanathapuram: The annual MBBS course fee in the state of Kerala has been fixed at Rs. 11 lakh by the Supreme Court which passed an interim verdict to this effect on Monday.

The verdict is being looked at as a setback for both the state government and the financially weaker sections who are already into the admission process.

The court also announced in the course of the verdict that of the Rs 11 lakh, Rs 5 lakh were to be remitted in cash and the remaining Rs 6 lakhs in the form of cash or bank guarantee. The new fee structure is to be applicable for colleges who had entered into an agreement with the state, to collect Rs. 5 lakh per annum.

A directive has also been given to the medical institutions to deposit the additional sum of Rs 6 lakhs in a separate bank account, until the final verdict is announced in this case.

The court also dismissed a review petition filed by the state government questioning it on the earlier order, allowing two colleges to set the annual fee at Rs 11 lakhs.

It further declared that students who have obtained admission in self-financing medical colleges, are to deposit their bank guarantee within 15 days of having been granted admission.

The court also dismissed the Attorney General, K.K. Venugopal's statement claiming that fee alteration in all likelihood may impact the allotment process underway.

However, having issued the interim orders, the court did ask the state government to look after the interest of the weaker sections by providing financial assistance to them. The state government, meanwhile, has stood in disagreement and declined support of this nature, reports India Today.

Despite the Supreme court fixing the fee for self-financing colleges at Rs 11 lakhs through an interim order, the Christian Medical Management Association (CMMA) has decided to keep the fee at Rs 5 lakhs only.

A management representative revealed that colleges that came under the CMMA will collect only Rs 5 lakh for their 85% MBBS merit allotments.

Allotments continue:

The Commissioner of Entrance Examinations (CEE), in the midst of admission confusion regarding fee structures, has announced the third round of allotment for MBBS and BDS courses.

Students who have been granted admission or have changed their earlier option, have been asked to confirm their allocations at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College campus.

Failure on the part of students to submit their documents or deposition of fee by 29^th August would result in authority rejections.

CM reassures the financially weaker sections:

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacting to the Supreme Court's interim verdict on admission fee for MBBS, on Tuesday, assured the weaker section of the state that the government would ensure that the deserving among them get medical admissions.

The government will extend its support in availing of bank guarantees and loans by the financially deprived, he added. According to the SC order, the final decision with regards to fee regulation lay with the Fee Regulatory Committee, the Minister informed.

A committee headed by Justice Rajendrababu will have a final authority on fixing the fee structure, the Chief Minister stated as a reassurance to the economically backward aspirants.

Reacting to the SC's order, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, said in a press statement“It is a face loss for the government, the health minister (who was overseeing the admission and fee discussions) should step down.”

Fazal Gafoor, a representative of private colleges and also the State President, Muslim Educational Society (MES), which runs a private medical college in Kerala was of the view that the verdict would not be a problem for students, as the court has given them a 15 day window to submit a bank guarantee for the remaining Rs 6 lakh that they now owed to the colleges.