New Delhi: In a huge setback to the Kerala government and a number of aspiring medical students in the state, the Supreme Court on Monday fixed Rs 11 lakh as admission fee for MBBS in self-financing colleges.
The court said all the colleges in the sector could charge the amount. Of the Rs 11 lakh, Rs 6 lakh may be paid as bank guarantee. The court ordered the college managements to keep the money in a separate bank account. The amount needs to be paid within 15 days of the admission.
The court rejected the state government's revision petition challenging an earlier order fixing Rs 11 lakh as the fee in two colleges.
Though the attorney general, K.K. Venugopal, cited that a revision in fee structure would put a burden on students as allotment has been completed, the court did not consider this argument.
The verdict comes even as admission process was progressing in Thiruvananthapuram. The verdict forces the students who have already got admission for Rs 5 lakh, the fee fixed by the state government, to arrange the rest of the amount in a short period.
Christian managements for Rs 5 lakh
Meanwhile, the Christian Management Association said the colleges under it would continue with the earlier fee structure which fixed Rs 5 lakh as admission fee.
Amala, Jubilee, Kolenchery, and Pushpagiri medical colleges will continue with the Rs 5 lakh fee.
Won't affect the poor: CM
Reacting to the Supreme Court order on admission fee for MBBS, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the government will ensure that poor students who are eligible for admission do not lose their chance due to the verdict.
Pinarayi said in a Facebook post that the government will extend its support in availing bank guarantee and loans to the eligible students. According to the SC order, the fees regulatory committee has the right to take a final decision on fixing the admission fees.
A committee headed by justice Rajendrababu will have a final authority on fixing the fee structure, Pinarayi said.
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