Students relieved as medical college withdraws extra fee demand

BENGALURU: Thirty-seven students who took admission last year under government quota in Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, and were asked to pay additional college fee during second year are relieved after the college backtracked on the same.

The students were shocked when the college notice board announced on August 13 that they had to pay a college fee of Rs 70,000 along with the tuition fee by August 31, or shell out Rs 100 per day as fine. They were actually required to pay a tuition fee of Rs 77,500 every year. A copy of the notice is with TOI.

Protesting the institution’s stand, some parents approached the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which had overseen their wards’ admission. “We were shocked to see the notice on fee payment but were afraid to raise our voice as we feared being targeted. All of us had paid an additional Rs 70,000 during admission, which the college said was for first year. But for second year too, the college demanded additional fee, which was nothing but illegal,” said some of the affected students.

KEA said that no complaint had been received from students. “We have learnt that some colleges are harassing students admitted under government quota for additional fee. We had received a similar complaint against another college and it was referred to the directorate of medical education as it does not come under our purview,” said SN Gangadharaiah, administrative officer, KEA.

Dr S Sacchidanand, director of medical education, said it is illegal on the part of the college to collect anything over and above the fee structure decided as per the consensual agreement. “As the fee regulatory committee is in place, we can’t take suo motu action against the medical college which asked students to pay additional fee. Let the students complain to us and we will take action,” he said.

Principal: Why go to media?

College principal Dr Jayanthi V said they had plans to introduce yoga classes and other facilities like gym, hostel and research, and hence the fee structure was announced on the notice board for all students entering second year.

“The same students had paid the college fee during admission and hadn’t raised any objections. Why are they going to media now? They could have sorted out the matter with us. We have now withdrawn the circular and also the facilities we wanted to provide them. Unlike government colleges that get bright students, we have all kinds of students and they require additional attention like expert guidance in yoga and extra-curricular activities,” she said.