No MBBS student should be prevented from classes over non-payment of fee: Kerala HC

Kochi: Issuing notices to the state and private medical colleges management association, the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the government to ensure that no MBBS students in their respective institutions should be prevented from attending classes solely for a reason of non-payment of MBBS fees.

The Court was hearing a plea by the parents of the second-year medical students against the Self-Financing Medical Colleges who are asking the students to pay the fees of the third year in advance.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that annoyed with the private medical colleges seeking advance fees from the students, the parents of the MBBS students were planning to take legal recourse. They had already approached the State Government and the Fee Regulatory Committee with their concerns and then moved the CM and now the high court.

According to the medicos, except for four private medical colleges, run by Christian managements, rest of the colleges are insisting so that the students pay the fees for the next academic year by this month. In fact, some of the college managements have clarified that in case of a missed deadline for the payment of fees, a 1% fine would be charged.