NAGPUR: The wait for 112 MBBS students from general category across Maharashtra for reimbursement of their fees just got longer.
For over one year and eight months, despite a warning from the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court Maharashtra government has failed to reimburse their fees as promised in a government resolution (GR) issued on September 20, 2019.
All of them had taken admissions in various private colleges after they failed to get a seat in open category due to introduction of ‘Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC)’ quota by then Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in state and EWS (open) quota by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government at Centre.
As a one time measure, the then government assured to pay their fees over and above that charged by Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals (GMCH).
About Rs 32 crore were supposedly allocated towards reimbursement of their fees.
Accordingly, these students paid first year fees in lakhs from their own pockets.
On Tuesday, the Maharashtra government filed an affidavit seeking more time for reimbursing the fees stating that “it’s under process”.
Filed by GMCH associate professor Dr Manoj Jiwtode, it informed that the cabinet led by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had approved the September 20, 2019, GR by issuing another one on October 9.
The Medical Education and Drugs Department has to make financial provision for reimbursement.
“For this, it is necessary to obtain permission from various departments– Finance, Planning and accountant general (AG).
A proposal has been accordingly moved by the department and is under process, which may take some time.
After the cabinet approval to GR, candidates’ objections have been invited.
The scrutiny of objections received is under process by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER),” he said.
He added that after the orders are issued, it was proposed to start a new scheme for reimbursement to candidates.
Dr Jiwtode’s affidavit was submitted in response to a plea filed by 19 MBBS students from NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences (NKPSIMS) and three others from Panjabrao Deshmukh Medical College (PDMC) in Amravati through counsel Ashwin Deshpande.
The lawyer contended that the colleges were now again pressurizing the students for the payment and the amount had now accumulated to crores.
Fortunately for the aggrieved students, HC had restrained the colleges from recovering the fees from students as an interim measure on July 13 last year.
On November 3, 2020, the HC issued an ultimatum to the government to reimburse fees within three weeks or it will summon the Medical Education and Drugs Department’s principal secretary.
Since then, nothing moved and not a rupee has been paid, the lawyer said.
According to the petitioners, the total seats of 50% quota for general category students were reduced due to implementation of Maratha and EWS reservations, and they lost the chance to get admission despite scoring merit marks.
Subsequently, they were forced to take admission in private colleges by paying much higher fees.