Doon Medical College MBBS students protest against high fees, 5 medicos expelled

Such a step has been taken by the disciplinary committee of the college as the students were protesting against the "exorbitant tuition fee" of Rs 4.2 lakh per year, reports TOI.

On the other hand, the students have alleged that only five students have been targeted even though many other students participated in the peaceful protest that was being conducted from 5 to 7 pm after the classes.

They have further alleged that they have been thrown out of the hostel without any notice period for arranging another accommodation. It should be mentioned in this context, that three of the 5 students belong to States outside of Uttarakhand.

The rest of the students decided to hold a candle march in support of the 5 MBBS students who have been expelled from the college hostel and started protesting against the decision by the college authorities. Meanwhile, when the officials assured them of canceling the expulsion order the students decided to adjourn the protest till Monday and in a letter, the students of the 2019 and 2020 batch clarified that none of them were forced to take part in the ongoing agitation against higher fees.

Also Read: Stipend for Uttrakhand MBBS interns increased to Rs 17000 per month

As per the latest media report by Jagran, the college management on Saturday issued a letter of expulsion of those 5 students and the reasons they cited including damaging the college's image, protesting without permission, indecency with security, asking juniors to join in agitation etc.

One of the students who have been expelled has informed the Times of India that the students have been protesting against the huge educational fees for the last month from 5 to 7 pm after attending the classes.

"We did not disturb classes. It was a peaceful protest attended by many students. Why are only five students being targeted?" the student said.

However, the Principal of the medical college, Dr. Ashutosh Sayana told the daily, "The students have been asked to leave the hostel for not listening to the warden, disrespecting security and for instigating their juniors to participate in the agitation as found by the disciplinary committee of the college."

He further added that the fee structure was not decided by the college authorities and only the State Government could decide the same.

While speaking to the daily, a student from the medical college told the daily, "Other Himalayan states have fees ranging from only Rs 8,000 per year, like Assam, to maximum Rs 75,000 per year charged by government colleges in Tripura. Then why is Uttarakhand charging so much? All of us cleared the same NEET exam to get admission into colleges, so why such disparity in fees?"

The students have protested the decision of the college management of expelling the five students and they sat on dharna as well, adds Jagran. They alleged that the college management is engaging in dictatorship and all these actions are efforts to weaken their ongoing demands for reduction in the fees. They have also clarified that the other students were not pressurized to agitate as the issue of fees concerned each one of them.

The daily further adds that the officials reached the protest site and requested the students to be reasonable. They also pointed out that the students have already met the Chief Minister and Health Minister and submitted their demands. In fact the Health Minister has assured the students to take the matter to the cabinet and take appropriate decision regarding the matter after studying the fees in the other states.

Besides, the officials after talking to the Principal and calling the relatives of the students assured of cancelling the expulsion and following this, the students adjourned their protest till Monday.

Meanwhile, the students of the 2019 and 2020 batch signed a letter and handed it over to the College Management to inform them about the timeline of the ongoing protest. They also clarified that none were forced to join the agitation.

Also Read: Uttarakhand Stipend Issue: 134 MBBS Interns of Doon Medical College rally outside College Campus