Telangana doctors yet to get back certificates despite HC orders

In some cases, the private medical colleges are reportedly withholding the documents citing that they have not received the court orders yet. Some private institutes, on the other hand have returned back the documents but unwilling to return the blank cheques collected from the students, reports TOI.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that providing a major relief to the Postgraduate medical and dental students who are studying in the private medical college in Telangana, the High Court had set aside Government's 2017 orders on the increased fee structure.

Apart from reinstating the fee structure of 2016, the HC had also directed the medical colleges to return the original education and course completion certificates to the PG doctors and make a refund of the excess fees collected from students within a period of 30 days.

Also Read: Relief to Telangana PG Medicos, HC Implements Older Fee Structure

Even though the High Court on January 19 had ordered to return back the documents, the Times of India adds that several private medical colleges are still withholding the documents and students have complained of being turned back by the college authorities despite the HC orders.

While commenting on the matter, a PG student who graduates in 2020 told TOI, "When I asked the college management to return my certificates, they asked me to personally visit them to discuss the same. I don't get why they need to discuss any further when the court has already told them to release the certificates."

Some students who had given bank guarantees have received their documents. However, they are now reaching out to colleges and demanding for the blank cheques collected from them.

Speaking to the daily, a PG graduate doctor said, "As a bank guarantee, the colleges have taken signed cheques from us so that if the case had come in their favour, they would have used these cheques to deduct the fees from our accounts. Now that the case has come in our favour, we want the college managements to duly return the signed cheque to us."

The management of the private medical colleges, on the other hand, have refused to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, TOI adds that several colleges are reportedly denying to return back the documents on the ground that they have not received the court orders yet. The authorities of Kaloji Narayana University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), however, have confirmed that they have sent the court order to all the institutes.

"We have sent the court order copy to principals of all colleges and have informed them that if they don't adhere to it, they may have to face contempt of court," Dr. D Praveen Kumar, registrar of KNRUHS told TOI.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the issue, K Mahesh Kumar, president of the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), who had filed the PIL before the HC back in 2017 said, "The High Court order clearly mentioned that the colleges need to return back the documents and the fees within 30 days. However, we have come to know that many medical and dental colleges are refusing to return the documents saying that they might approach the Apex Court. Even if they do so, they are bound to comply with the High Court order for now."

Also Read: HC Dismisses Plea Challenging KNRUHS MBBS First Year Exam Pattern