Release bank guarantee of MBBS students, college told
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 4
The HP Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HPPEIRC) has directed Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital (MMMCH), Kumarhatti (Solan), to immediately release the bank guarantee of all students of the 2017-18 batch.
The regulator, in its order, stated that, “The bank guarantee, which is equivalent to two-year fee, is illegal and deserves to be released forthwith.” Chairman of the HPPEIRC KK Katoch said the annual fee would be charged in two installments instead of payment of full fee for one year in advance.
The orders came in the wake of a complaint filed by Rajinder Kumar Bansal whose daughter Yashika sought admission in MBBS in 2017-18 and the college insisted on a bank guarantee and payment of annual fee in advance.
The commission had passed the orders in January 2018 but the college filed a review petition. The commission, in its revised orders, maintained that the earlier orders regarding the release of bank guarantee and fee in two instalments, as mentioned in the prospectus of Himachal Pradesh University, were justified.
The commission pointed out that there was no provision of taking bank guarantee in government colleges which were charging much less.
The commission considered the fact that the annual fee in government colleges was only Rs 60,000 while the fee for the government quota, management quota and NRI seats was Rs 7- lakh, Rs 12 lakh and US $28,980.
The order also said the prospectus of Himachal Pradesh University did not apply to the MMMCH as it was not affiliated to the HPU.
The regulator further directed the MMMCH to devise its own prospectus in consonance with the directions issued by the regulatory bodies and state government from time to time, clearly mentioning the session, details of faculties along with their qualifications, seats available, infrastructure, fee structure, including hostel fee and other charges, approved by the state government.
