HYDERABAD: A vacation bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday made it clear that admissions into post-graduate medical courses in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states would be done after the aspiring students pay 50 per cent of the new fee and execute a bond for the balance 50 per cent amount.
Accordingly, the bench modified the earlier interim order of the court on the quantum of fee payable by the students.
Petitioners Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association and Osmania Junior Doctors Association filed PIL challenging the GOs issued by Telangana government on increasing the fee by fixing Rs 6.90 lakh for convener quota seat and Rs 24 lakh under management quota seat.
As per the old fee structure, admission fee for MD/MS courses in convener quota was Rs 3.20 lakh per seat and under management quota it was Rs 5.80 lakh. On May 11, a vacation bench granted interim stay on the GO issued by Telangana government increasing the fee structure for the convener and management quota seats for PG medical and dental faculties.
Aggrieved, the Telangana private medical and dental colleges management association filed the vacate stay petition. On Thursday, several other petitioners also challenged the GOs issued by AP government regarding the fee hike.
During the course of hearing, the petitioners’ counsel argued that fee enhancement was not only exorbitant but also contrary to procedure laid down by law.
On the other hand, the senior counsels appearing for the managements association submitted that they cannot run the colleges by collecting old fee. Improvement in education standards and other facilities cannot be provided without fee hike, they argued.
After hearing both the sides, the bench directed that the students will have to pay 50 per cent of the new fee and execute a bond for the balance amount to get admission into PG medical courses.