Rs 50,000 Fine for being absent in ENT class, Rs 1 lakh for using Induction, Room Heater in Hostel: Doctors Demand Action against UP Medical College

Mathura: Pointing out that a Mathura-based private medical college has been collecting huge amounts as fines from students for petty reasons and deducting the same from their security deposit, the United Doctors Front Association (UDFA) has demanded action against the institute.

Recently, issuing an order on October 28, 2023, the college asked the MBBS students of the 2020 batch to pay Rs 50,000 fine each for being absent in the Theory class of ENT held on the same day. 

"All Students of MBBS batch 2020 who were absent today (28 October 2023, Saturday) in Theory class of ENT, are fined a sum of Rs 50,000/- (Rupee Fifty Thousand Only) per student. If such incident is repeated in future, then students will be suspended for 15 days. Such students are to deposit the fine amount in account section," mentioned the order issued by the college.

Apart from this, UDFA also referred to another incident where the college authorities imposed Rs 1 lakh penalty on each of the MBBS students for using Electrical/Electronic Appliances in hostels.

The order issued by the college mentioned that during a surprise visit to the Boys Hostel on 13th Jan 2023 by the Chairman of the medical college, a total number of 13 students of the MBBS 2019 batch were found using non-permitted Electrical/Electronic Appliances in their allotted rooms of the hostel.

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Terming it to be "an act of indiscipline and breaking the rules & regulations of the college", the chairman of the college ordered Rs 1 lakh fine on each of the 13 students. "This amount of fine will be adjusted from their security deposit," mentioned the order.

Referring to these two incidents, UDFA has demanded the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and the Deputy Chief Minister and the Minister of Medical Education Brajesh Pathak to take action against "these #medicalmafias who are looting money from students & not returning security money from initial batches which is refundable," the association mentioned in a Tweet.

Further, the association has also demanded the National Medical Commission (NMC) to intervene and blacklist such colleges. Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, the National General Secretary of UDFA, Dr. Arun Kumar said, "We got to know lots of facts about this specific medical college, located in Mathura. We got to know about loads of problems that the students are facing in that particular medical college and few of them are not documented.

Referring to the issue of charging a penalty for being absent from the classes, he added, "If someone is absent in some ENT class due to some reason, it might be due to some reason. These students might have some problems attending these classes. NMC criteria is to fulfill the 75% attendance annually and 80% in practical examinations. So, how can a college decide if a student should participate in that particular class or not? Overall they have to ensure 75% attendance. But what the college is doing is dictatorship."

"They have also been warned to be suspended for 15 days. If such kind of scenario is in the medical colleges, which the government is approving, I think it is creating a problem. That is why suicide rates are increasing these days. Previously KM Medical College did not get permission for two years I think, after the 2016 batch," he further added.

Dr. Kumar also mentioned how students have informed that the college produces fake patients in front of NMC during the inspection and they also raised the issue of ghost faculty in the medical college.

He pointed out that Security Deposit is collected from the students at the time of admissions. "In this college, I think around Rs 3 lakh was collected. Security is refundable. But they are giving petty reasons to take the money."

Addressing the issue, Dr. Kumar added, "These are medical mafias and they are running the colleges. How can you expect that after passing these students will not run behind the money?"

"Our organisation demanded from the Health Minister and the CM Yogi ji for taking such action for such happenings of irregular activities in Uttar Pradesh. We are also appealing to NMC India, which is regulating all the colleges in India, and also the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to take strict action against this college. We also appeal to the Union Government to conduct strict inspections of this kind of medical college. If NMC gives leniency, and a warning is given, the students might fail the practical examination. Ultimately the practical exam is in the hands of the college and their faculty. In the fear of these things, the students do not come forward," he added.

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