The death of merit

Less than a week after the state govt of Tamil Nadu put in place a system to curb the collection of capitation fees by privte medical colleges, the investigation has caught the officials of two leading medical colleges demanding money to admit students.

Medical Council of India (MCI) on Jun 3 sought report on capitation scam in private medical colleges after a joint investigation of TIMES NOW-Time of India exposed the system of pvt medical colleges collecting capitation fees from students interested in taking admission into Medicine and Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS). The TIMES NOW expose has created a major impact in TN with the state govt now ready to issue showcause notices to both the private medical colleges.

Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has also taken note of the expose into the capitation scam. It has promised action after studying the transcripts of TIMES NOW's expose.

In one of the most reputed deemed medical universities in Tamil Nadu, Sri Ramachandra University, TIMES NOW has learnt that the price of a seat here is anything between 40 and 75 lakh rupees. But TIMES NOW found out that is just the money to secure a seat. The advertised tuition fees of 18 lakh rupees is over and above this.

This is not just a one-off case. At another medical college in Chennai that belongs to a minister in the union cabinet, the story is no different. TIMES NOW has learnt that the going rate in Sree Balaji Medical College, Chennai is 20 lakh rupees for a seat and another 19 lakh rupees as tution fees. The Chairman of this college is S Jagathrakshakan. MoS I&B.