Thiruvananthapuram: Scores of students seeking admission to private medical colleges returned disappointed on Friday, the last date of admission, after management representatives told them to pay up Rs 10 lakh by October 17.
Many students and parents had come prepared to pay Rs 2.5 lakh at the time of allotment to three medical colleges. They were in for a shock when the college managers told them to pay the rest of the first-year fee within October 17. They were also required to provide bank guarantee for Rs 44 lakh, fees for the next four years. An interest-free deposit of Rs 10 lakh and hostel fee take the burden to more than Rs 60 lakh.
Parents’ woes were compounded by the fact that banks were closed for four days up to Tuesday, giving them too little time to arrange for a loan or guarantee pledging their house and property. Many of them who checked with their banks were told to go for a fixed deposit of Rs 40 lakh if they were to be issued a bank guarantee.
Parents and students alleged that the allotment was an eyewash by the managements to squeeze in their favorites who had come prepared with the money and bank guarantees. The management representatives, however, shot down the pleas and said their demands were well within the limits set by the court.