Maharashtra: ARA Directs Compliance with Fee Structure

Background of the Complaint

The Maharashtra Admissions Regulating Authority (ARA) has mandated a private medical college in the state to follow its established fee structure. This decision arose from a complaint by a postgraduate medical candidate who reported that the college denied him admission while requesting a higher fee.

Details of the Allegation

According to the student’s grievance, Dr. Rajendra Gode Medical College in Amravati allegedly asked for Rs 60 lakh for a Master of Surgery (MS) seat in ENT that he was offered under the institutional quota during the third round of state-level NEET PG counselling. The student declined to pay the demanded amount, leading college officials to withhold his admission until he agreed to the payment.

ARA’s Response and Hearing

In response to the complaint, the ARA’s Grievance Redressal Committee conducted an online hearing. The ARA concluded that the fee in question was an ad-hoc charge, stating that the final tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year will be established by the Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA), as reported by Career360.

Instructions Issued to the College

The ARA issued a statement instructing the college to complete the admission process by collecting only the fee determined by the FRA, without any additional charges. The college is required to notify the student accordingly and submit an admission report to the state CET Cell. Furthermore, the committee recommended that if the college fails to comply with these directives, appropriate action should be taken in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Resolution of the Student’s Admission

The student has been asked to confirm his admission by February 18. The ARA noted that the student had cleared up the “misunderstanding” regarding the fees after discussions with college officials. It is important to note that the Maharashtra CET Cell oversees NEET PG counselling in the state.

Understanding the Fee Structure

The FRA sets the fees for all private, unaided colleges in Maharashtra based on the institution’s income and expenses. For new colleges and courses, such as the PG program at Amravati College, an ad-hoc fee is initially established, which may later be adjusted following the institution’s proposal.