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

Chennai: 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. The decision comes close at heels of the Madras High Court’s interim order fixing the deemed universities MBBS course fee at Rs. 13

Looking at the recent court decision other deemed universities have decided to move the court for similar directions in their own cases.

The High Court, earlier in the month, had directed the University Grants Commission appointed Fee Committee to analyze and recommend fee that deemed universities ought to collect for MBBS courses run by them. It had asked the UGC to form the committee by June 30 and file a report within six weeks. Following the same, the UGC has now formed an 11 member panel headed AIIMS former director, Dr RC Deka to fix the fee

Since the admission process is underway, the students may be granted admissions on payment of Rs. 13 lakh as fixed by the court, however, this is likely to change if the sum fixed by the fee committee turns out to be higher. The students will then have to pay the balance amount if the Fee Committee fixes a higher fee the directive by the court added.

Earlier on a vacation bench of Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice Indu Malhotra allowed Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute to charge the previous year’s fees for the current academic year from students being admitted to MBBS courses in 2018. “This will, however, be subject to the fees, which may be fixed by the Fee Fixation Committee as directed by the high court in the impugned order,” the SC order had read.

On the other hand College Registrar, V Swaminathan felt it would be unjust to admit students to a college without giving them an idea of the fee to be charged.

“If the committee hikes the fee after they join and students realize they can’t pay, they will be helpless. Seats in the college will be wasted too,” he told TOI. Administrators of other deemed universities in the state agreed. Most revealed that they were moving the Supreme Court as Rs. 13 lakh was too low a sum to run an institution.