The controversy around the fee structure in private medical & paramedical colleges was hoped to end in Karnataka with the governor of the state T.N. Chaturvedi having signed the CET bill. But it has only flared up a conflict between the management of the private medical colleges and the state government has surfaced yet again. Caught in the crossfire are the students who are now looking at the Supreme Court to come to their rescue.
The organisations of private medical colleges have said that they will challenge any notification to this effect in the Supreme Court. Stating that they would challenge any ordinance as soon as the notification comes up, S Shivashankarappa, President, Private Medical Colleges Organisation, said that the collages couldn’t manage with such low fees.According to the CET Bill, all private medical colleges in Karnataka are to provide 50 per cent reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs. The CET Bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly amid an Opposition walkout. It also states that a further 15% seats are to be reserved for the NRI students that could mean only 35% of seats available for the general category students.
The rule also states that the admissions are to be overseen by a committee appointed by the government, and fees are to be decided by a government appointed committee. Right now the fees have been set at Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4.6 lakh for the course duration. It is on this fees clause that the private medical colleges are against. But the state government seems not be in a relenting mood.
D H Shankaramoorthi, Minister, Higher Education, stated that the amount of fees to be paid by each college will be decided and will be applicable to all students and no discretion will be allowed.
