Maharashtra government is keen to convert an ordinance relating to private unaided medical colleges into a law soon. But the move might see obstacles as the union representing the later is planning to approach the court.

What’s the ordinance about?

• Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Education Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Fees) Ordinance, 2015 covers all professional colleges.
• The ordinance is expected to hurt the unaided medical colleges, which are often accused of collecting hefty fees and profiteering.
• The government wants to control the fee-structure and admission process and is welcomed by students and parents bodies as it leads to uniform and lower fee structure in unaided colleges.

Jayant Jain, president of the forum for fairness in education welcomes the move in a DNA article and says,
“This was much awaited as most colleges have been enjoying all kinds of immunity due to political support.”

The association of unaided medical colleges of Maharashtra plans to challenge the government’s move in court. Dr Kamal Kishore Kadam, President of the association of unaided medical colleges of Maharashtra says the proposed ordinance as “violation of SC guidelines” laid down in a 2013 order.

What does 2013 Supreme Court order say ?
“The colleges which receive no grants from the government have got right to admission, can decide on fee and governance.”

Number of seats to come under the new ordinance
In Maharashtra, there are 27 unaided medical and dental colleges with over 5,000 seats for MBBS, BDS, BSc nursing and other paramedical courses.
More than 35,000 candidates from across the country compete in the Associate-CET exam conducted jointly by these colleges annually.

Present scenario
The asking capitation rate for an MBBS undergraduate seat is Rs30-50 lakh. For postgraduate medical seats, the rate is between Rs75 lakh and Rs2 crore, depending upon the speciality.
In addition, students need to pay annual fee ranging from Rs5 lakh to Rs0 lakh.

   Send article as PDF