The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members forced adjournment of the Assembly on Wednesday over the continuing confusion over MBBS admissions in private self-financing medical colleges.
The Opposition accused the government of being hand-in-glove with the private self-financing medical college managements, forcing a huge sum as fees on even students who have high ranks in the NEET merit list. The Chief Minister’s office had intervened to turn matters in the managements’ favour, leaving the Health Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) mere onlookers, they alleged.
Raising the issue through notice for an adjournment motion, V.D. Satheesan (Congress) pointed out that the Fee Regulatory Committee’s decision that only ₹5 lakh should be collected as fee from merit students had become meaningless with the Supreme Court allowing the managements to collect ₹11 lakh as fee subject to the final decision of the Kerala High Court.
The present confusion, he said, was the result of the government’s ‘deliberate’ indecision even after the Kerala High Court had upheld the committee’s decision that 85% of the seats should carry only ₹5 lakh as fee. Had the government taken a firm stand, the managements would not have got the opportunity to go to the Supreme Court and secure a favourable verdict. The SC decision would imply that students would have to spend between ₹55 lakh to ₹1 crore by the time they complete their studies, he added.
Rebutting the Opposition member’s allegations, Health Minister K.K. Shylaja said there was no failure on the part of the government. The entire confusion was on account of the managements’ refusal to accept the decision of the Fee Regulatory Committee and its decision to take the matter to the Supreme Court. The apex court’s order would cause serious hardship to the students as admissions in 85% seats would now be possible only if the students paid ₹5 lakh upfront and ₹6 lakh as bank guarantee. The government has requested the apex court to permit one more allotment before spot allotment. At no point had the government taken any decision favouring the managements, she added.
However, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the present situation was the result of the government’s lawyers inability to present the State’s case effectively before the Supreme Court. The government could well have admitted 85% of the students at the fees fixed by the Fee Regulatory Committee. It did not do so and went on and issued a series of orders only to help the private managements, he added.
With the Speaker denying leave for Mr. Satheesan’s notice, the Opposition moved into the well of the House with slogans, forcing the Speaker to rush through the business and declare dispersal of the House.