Plea against NMC's fee guidelines reaches Supreme Court

Association of Health Sciences Institutes has moved the Supreme Court against National Medical Council (NMC) guideline for fee regulation, medical aspirants fear more delays in medical admissions due to this case.

Students who are seeking admission to Indian medical colleges through the counselling processes ahead are now fearing more delays in admission due to a case against National Medical Council's (NMC) guideline for fee regulation. Association of Health Sciences Institutes has approached the Supreme Court against NMC guidelines where it recommended that fees for 50% of seats in private and deemed medical colleges should be at par with fees charged by government medical colleges in respective states or union territories.

The SC on Monday passed an order giving two weeks’ time to the central government, NMC and other respondents to file their replies to the petition, which is contesting the NMC’s authority in fixing fees of private unaided educational institutions, as reported by Indian Express.

The Background

NMC had issued a memorandum about guidelines for fee regulation, wherein it was recommended to reduce the fee of 50% seats in private medical colleges as well as deemed universities by bringing them at par with fees charged by government medical colleges in respective states and union territories. The Commission intended to implement it from the next academic year.

Recently, Kerala High Court observed that the guideline is not applicable in their state as there is no concept of a Government Quota or Management Quota in private medical colleges and the fees of private medical colleges are fixed by a statutory body, the Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (AFRC).

Read more:

• NMC's direction on fees of 50% seats in private medical colleges will not be applicable in Kerala
• Fees of 50% seats in private medical colleges at par with GMC: A timeline of events