BENGALURU: The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) created some confusion among under-graduate Medical seat aspirants at two deemed-to-be medical universities by putting up the higher fees proposed by the universities on its official website.
Seat aspirants were shocked to see the fee structure put up for two deemed universities under government quota (25 per cent of seats surrendered to the government). The fees put up for Yenepoya Medical University, Mangaluru, was Rs 11,22,000 and for Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Rs 6,88,000.
On Wednesday, KEA had uploaded the fee structures proposed by the universities on its website and after a flurry of calls from the aspirants and their parents, the authorities revised the circular which says the fee under government quota is Rs 62,500.
The circular was online till 4.30 pm on Thursday. When contacted, Dr S S Harsoor, director, Medical Education Department, said, “It was a mistake and we have withdrawn it. The revised fee structure has been posted on the website.”
However, KEA authorities said it was not their mistake. Gangadharaiah, Administrative Officer of KEA, said, “We have done things as per directions from the Medical Education Department and not on our own.”
Authorities of the deemed-to-be universities said they had no idea about the mix-up. Dr V D Patil, Registrar, KLE University, which governs Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, told Express, “We have submitted the fee we charge for MBBS seats and it is left to the government to take a call on it. Till today, we have not received any communication from KEA or government officials. We were informed about this by students.”
Seats of these two deemed universities were added to the extended round of counseling to fill unfilled medical seats under the all-India quota and also the seats at new medical colleges. The last date for optional entry (online) and to report to the colleges for these 189 seats has been extended up to Monday.
“Following the confusion and also considering the long weekend, we have extended the last date,” Medical Education Department officials said.
Seats Given to Govt
As per information from KEA, the deemed medical universities which have given seats to the government are KMC, Mangaluru, KMC, Manipal, KS Hegde Medical College, Mangaluru, Yenepoya Medical University, Mangaluru, and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi. According to the norms, they have to give 25 per cent of their enhanced seats to the government and accordingly, KLE university had given 12 seats and Yenepoya university, 13.