The High Court of Madras has directed the deemed universities in Tamil Nadu to charge Rs. 13 lakh as the fees for MBBS course. The court’s decision on the fee structure is an interim measure since UGC’s fee fixation committee is yet to approve the fee structure for MBBS course in deemed universities. The court felt that Rs. 25 – 35 lakh per annum was too high and ordered deemed universities to charge Rs. 13 lakh as an interim measure.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is yet to make an in-depth study and recommend the fees for MBBS course collected by deemed universities.
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Madras HC has also considered an undertaking issued by UGC to constitute a committee for fixing the fees for MBBS course by June 30, 2018. There is a need to regulate and streamline the MBBS fees after considering all relevant factors. The bench further directed UGC’s fee fixation committee to submit its recommendation on MBBS fees within six weeks after hearing all stakeholders.
Earlier, a communication was made to the court that the fee fixation committee had fixed Rs. 11.5 lakh per annum for the seats under management quota in deemed universities. Considering the previous fee structure, the court has fixed Rs. 13 lakh as the fees for MBBS course for the academic session 2018-19.
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If the fee for MBBS course fixed by fee fixation committee is more than the interim fees fixed by Madras HC, students will have to pay the balance fees. On the other hand, if the fee structure is less than the interim fees fixed by Madras HC, students can claim a refund, stated the court.