The Commissioner of Medical Education has ordered an investigation into allegations of private medical colleges overcharging students for caution money across the state. Nine colleges, situated in regions like Navi Mumbai, Palghar, and Karjat, are under scrutiny. Two-member committees, formed at five government medical colleges, have been tasked with conducting the inquiry and submitting their findings within eight days.
Financial Irregularities and Charges
This inquiry follows a complaint by Kalpesh Yadav, Joint Secretary of Yuva Sena (UBT), Maharashtra, to the Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA). According to the complaint, these institutions are demanding large caution money payments from students that are not officially recorded. Yadav also pointed out that development fees collected by these colleges are not in compliance with state regulations. These irregularities, the complaint alleges, are allowing colleges to bypass official financial reporting requirements and deceive the government.
Investigation
The investigation order, issued on October 16 by Commissioner Rajeev Nivatkar, appoints the deans of five government medical colleges to lead the probe into the alleged malpractices. The government institutions involved include Grant Government Medical College in Mumbai, B J Government Medical College in Pune, and others in Solapur, Miraj, and Latur. The investigation will focus on these private colleges' handling of caution money and their Institutional Quota admissions process, which reserves around 15% of seats but has been criticized for selectively rejecting eligible students.
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