Fee jolt for MMMC students, revision process under way

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 25

The revision of fee structure of Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College (MMMC), Kumarhatti (Solan) is under way. This despite the fact that the university has not yet sought affiliation from Himachal Pradesh University. It has even failed to implement the provision of the parent Act as per which it cannot affiliate any college.

The MCI has allowed the intake of 150 MBBS students. The colleges has 50 per cent state quota seats. The fee under the state quota, management quota and the NRI quota is fixed by the committee constituted by the government and at present, the annual fee under the government quota is Rs 5 lakh as compared to Rs 60,000 in three government-run medical colleges.

However, the MMMC has sought an increase in the fee under the government quota and invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders, including students and their parents, who are against the hike. They said the fee was already high. The middle class cannot afford to pay such an exorbitant amount. This way, the very purpose of having government quota seats will be defeated.

Sources in the government said the fee committee would look into the matter and take appropriate decision after seeking the opinion, suggestions and objections from all stakeholders. The college had refused to admit the fourth batch of MBBS as per the NEET merit and the students had to approach the High Court. The court had directed the college to start the admission process, but at the same time asked the students to file a declaration that they would be willing to pay the revised fee from the present session. The government had already amended the Himachal Pradesh Private Medical Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Fixation of Fee), 2006, making it mandatory for all medical educational institutions to get affiliation from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU).

The government is now mulling over establishing a medical university. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had already said a bill in this regard would be introduced in the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha and after its passage, all medical educational institutions should deemed to be affiliated to the medical university.