Several students opted out of PG medical counselling on Monday after coming to know that the fee structure in self-financing colleges was higher than what was mentioned on the official website.
A candidate from Bengaluru, who arrived at 9.30 a.m. at the Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital on Anna Salai, was awaiting his turn when a representative of a medical college announced that what is mentioned on the website (₹13 lakh) was only the tuition fee and that it did not include hostel accommodation and other fees.
“We were told that it would cost ₹25 lakh per year, including hostel accommodation. We said we would stay out of the campus, but she said it was compulsory to stay on campus,” the candidate who opted out of counselling said.
The candidate’s relative said he was shocked to see college representatives on the premises where counselling was held. “During engineering counselling, self-financing engineering college representatives cannot come anywhere close to Anna University. Why is such a system not being followed,” he wanted to know.
This year, following directions from the Medical Council of India, the Directorate of Medical Education is conducting counselling for seats in deemed universities, management quota and government quota. Selection committee officials said they had permitted the representatives to enable candidates to assess the facilities in the college of their choice.
Officials said candidates could lodge written complaints if they were asked to pay fees higher than the government stipulated amount.
They said the mandate was only for counselling and the fee structure was fixed by a separate committee.
Hostel stay must
Hostel was not a choice for candidates choosing clinical courses, officials said. “PG students opting for clinical programmes must stay on campus as it involves hospital services. Non-clinical programme students can stay off campus,” explained an official. When the selection committee was asked why college representatives were permitted, selection secretary G. Selvarajan said it was done with the idea of helping students clear their doubts. Also, counselling was being held for management quota seats. No representatives of self-financing institutions would be allowed on the premises during counselling for government quota seats, he said.
Counselling for management quota seats will continue on Tuesday after which counselling for government quota seats will be held. There is likely to be a mop-up round for vacancies in deemed universities.
