Students of D.D. Medical College, Tiruvallur, are hoping against hope they will be able to continue their education.
They have requested the State government to transfer them to a government or private medical college or to take over the institution.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) derecognised D.D. Medical College and denied it permission to admit students in 2011. But the college went ahead with admission and took in nearly 100 students that year.
Many of the students said they paid around Rs. 30 lakh towards yearly tuition fees and capitation. “Most of our families have sold land and jewellery and borrowed money to fund our education. Back then, the college management had shown us documents that said MCI had approved an intake of 100 students,” said a student.
They had no idea about the derecognition, the students said, as they received hall tickets from Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University and also wrote the examination in August 2012.
“We downloaded the results from the University’s website in November,” another student said.
Many students, especially girls, recounted horrifying experiences at the college. “There are at least 9 closed circuit television cameras in the girls’ hostel. We were asked to sign on blank bond papers just hours before the University exams. We did not question anything out of fear of being reprimanded,” a student said.
Whenever there was a delay in paying the fees, a penalty of Rs. one lakh was imposed on the students. After learning about the MCI’s derecognition in February this year, 40 girls of the batch left the college, the student said.
Most of the students, who belong to various parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, are now staying in Chennai with friends and relatives, waiting for their case to come up for hearing in the Madras High Court.
