THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two days after some self-financing medical college (SFMC) managements approach the High Court against the fixation of fees by the Fee Regulatory Committee for Professional Colleges, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala wrote to the government to take a strong stance against them in the court. Alleging the managements were trying to loot students, Ramesh demanded effective government intervention to address the issue.
“Last time it was the lack of timely intervention on the part of the government that lead to an uncertainty in admission to MBBS seats in SFMCs. Going by the developments so far, it has to be suspected the government might take a lenient stance towards them at the court,” he said.
At the same time, Congress leader V M Sudheeran in a statement said the government’s indecision to intervene in the issue has become a matter of concern for students and parents. “It is dubious the government did not approve the fixation of fees by the Fee Regulatory Committee for Professional Colleges. There is an unholy nexus between the government and private medical college managements in admission matters,” he alleged.
10pc increase allowed
It is learned the Fee Regulatory Committee fixed the fee at Rs 5.6 lakh after allowing an increase of 10 per cent over the previous year’s fee for future development expenditure and growth and making an increase of 5 per cent per annum towards wholesale price index. According to the managements, the committee had passed the order taking away the colleges’ basic right to fixing the fee.