GMC Srinagar rule of Pay Rs 2 lakh Penalty for Leaving Course Mid-way questioned by Students

Although the medical college has claimed that the students had agreed to this norm in an affidavit submitted during their admission, the students have refused to have signed any such affidavit at the time of joining of the course, adds Greater Kashmir.

The norm, which has been in force at the institute for years was made with an aim to stop wastage of seats. However, at the same time, this practice barred students in opting higher-level professional courses as well.

Recently, the matter faced controversy after some students belonging to the medical college, who were pursuing B Sc Anesthesia and other paramedical courses cleared NEET-UG 2021 and got the opportunity to get enrolled for MBBS courses in other Kashmir-based Government institutes.

Getting the opportunity for securing admission for MBBS courses, naturally, the students opted to leave their paramedical courses halfway.

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As per the latest media report by Greater Kashmir, the problem initiated when the students went to the GMC Srinagar for collecting their documents, and were asked for paying the penalty amount.

"When we went to GMC Srinagar to collect our documents, we were asked to pay a penalty of Rs 2 lakh for leaving the course midway," a student, aggrieved by the GMC norm, told the daily.

The institute has denied giving back the original documents of the class 10 and 12 of the students on the ground that they have not paid the penalty.

"Now we have to submit these documents in the GMC where we have been allotted our seat for MBBS. But the authorities at GMC Srinagar deny the documents and are forcing us to pay a fine of Rs 2 lakh. This is sheer injustice with us," another student who has secured her MBBS seat in GMC Baramulla told Greater Kashmir.

"In 2020, I did not qualify for MBBS and decided to pursue B Sc Anesthesia. But in 2021, I again tried my luck and was successful but the bizarre rules set up by the authorities at GMC Srinagar are creating impediments for several aspiring students like me," said another student.

"The total fee for three years is only Rs 45000 but if a student leaves it midway, he or she is charged a penalty of Rs 2 lakh," added the student.

On the other hand, the Principal of the GMC, Dr Samia Rashid has defended the stand of the institute saying that the students had submitted an affidavit agreeing to the terms of paying Rs 2 lakh penalty for leaving the courses mid-way.

"We do this because once any student leaves the course midway, our seats remain vacant and get wasted," said Dr Rashid, further mentioning that they relax this norm only on special cases and ask the student for paying Rs 20000 as a one-time penalty instead.

However, the students have refused to buy this argument and have denied having signed any such affidavit.