Comed-K tells government to bridge fee cut

After the Karnataka High Court admitted the petitions by several medical students who have challenged the fee structure for 2004-05, chairman of Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges-Karnataka (Comed-K) R L Jalappa has asked the government to make good the difference in the fees. The government will have to do so if the court rules in favour of the students, he added.

Having reached a consensus earlier, both the state government and Comed-K had agreed that seat-sharing to the dental and medical courses would be under the 60:40 ratio, respectively.

Of the government's 60 per cent quota, it was agreed by both parties that the first 30 per cent of the students would have to pay Rs 35,000, while the remaining 30 per cent would pay Rs 1.45 lakh.

The management quota (i.e. the remaining 40 per cent) would pay Rs 3.75 lakh per seat.

Since the high court has accepted a petition filed by a group of students who have challenged this differential fee structure, Jalappa has said: "Even if the court ruling favours the students, we will still abide by the agreement reached with the state government. But, we want the government to step in and make good the difference of Rs 2 lakh (i.e. difference of Rs 3.75 lakh and Rs 1.65 lakh)."

Comed-K colleges have already given a notice to its students admitted under the management quota and to students of lower ranks that they must pay Rs 3.75 lakh as fees. This has been done keeping in mind the consensus reached between the state government and Comed-K.

According to Jalappa, "Our costs work out to Rs 2 lakh for every seat. If the high court upholds that a uniform fee structure be followed, we will adhere by it. In such a case the government will have to make good the shortfall in the fees."

In fact, Jalappa went on to say that till the case is "satisfactorily resolved", the state government must suspend counselling.