KAP Vishwanathan Medical College demands fee for MBBS seat under 7.5% quota, gets DME notice

In a two-page circular issued on August 4, the Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr R Shanthimalar has instructed deans/principals of government and self-financing medical and dental colleges to strictly follow the rules and not to collect any fees from students getting admitted under the 7.5% quota.

Shanthimalar emphasized that the heads of institutions have been repeatedly instructed not to collect any type of essential fees such as tuition, special, examination, hostel, mess, book, basic materials like a white coat, stethoscope and other fees from students admitted under 7.5% quota in MBBS and BDS courses in government and self financial medical and dental colleges.

“Any complaints will be viewed seriously,” the circular warned of action in case of violation.

The circular also stated that girl students admitted under the 7.5% preferential allotment are also eligible to get the benefit under ‘pudhumai penn thittam’.

The directions were issued after reports surfaced that a college in Trichy asked a Scheduled Caste student, who was allotted MBBS seat under 7.5% quota to pay nearly 50% of the government-mandated fee of Rs 13,273. When the candidate reported for admission, a senior administrator gave a form to him, demanding payment of 7,773 under different heads including ‘university fee’, Flag Day fee, and ‘miscellaneous fee’. This unanticipated demand prompted the student to return home looking for a loan from family and friend.

The Tamil Nadu government, in 2020, introduced the 7.5% quota for admission of students from government schools in state-run medical colleges and self-financing medical colleges. The entire fee for these students including that of hostel and mess will be borne by the government.

Also Read: 7.5 Percent Reservation For Govt Students Constitutionally Valid: Madras HC

However, the recent demand of fee prompted DME to issue the notice, additionally instructing the heads to provide care to these students to overcome the difficulties in learning to cope with their studies.

Moreover, Dr Shanthimalar also instructed medical and dental colleges to form a mentor group headed by a senior professor to monitor the academic progress of these students, and also arrange for additional classes if requested or needed by the students. EdexLive reports that the DME also diected that necessary steps should be adopted as per National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines to curb the menace of ragging of any student.

A senior official, when question about the demand clarified stating, "We have told them that this will be refunded as soon as the government gives us the fee. This was done to ensure that the university fee is not delayed.”

Commenting on the issue, College dean Dr D Nehru, who initially denied collection of any fee from candidates selected under government school quota, later told TOI, “Only one student selected under 7.5% quota has paid the fee. The college can reverse this fee too.”

Meanwhile, Director of medical education Dr R Shanthimalar stated that, “A team at the college collected the fee without discussing it with the vice-principal or dean. It will be sorted out by tomorrow.”

Strict instructions have been given to all medical colleges asking them not to demand any fees from candidates admitted under the 7.5% quota, she added.

“The colleges should send the report and amount required including hostel, exam, and book fees to the directorate. Our office will compile and send them for fund allocation,” she further added.

TOI reports that in the past week, 719 NEET-qualified candidates were given MBBS and BDS seat allotment orders under the quota in the presence of health minister Ma Subramanian. Ten students were allotted seats at the government medical college in Trichy.