Pune: The Maharashtra State Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA) has imposed a ceiling on the deposit fees that medical colleges can charge at the time of admission.

This move comes in response to complaints from students about excessive and varied deposit amounts charged by different institutions. The FRA has now set the maximum deposit fees for various medical courses, ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000.

The newly established limits apply to 16 different medical courses, including MBBS, MS, MD, and super-specialty courses, which have a maximum deposit fee of ₹50,000. Other courses, such as dental, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, and Nursing, have their respective deposit limits set between ₹10,000 and ₹40,000.

This decision follows previous warnings issued by the FRA to colleges about maintaining transparency in their fee structures. Despite these warnings, some institutions continued to charge exorbitant fees, leading the FRA to enforce stricter regulations.

Additionally, the FRA has mandated that colleges open a separate account for deposit fees, with the interest earned on these deposits treated as income. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in penalties for the institutions involved.

Students who face difficulty in paying the deposit at the time of admission will no longer be denied entry into the program. Colleges must now allow sufficient time for payment post-admission, and the deposit must be refunded within 90 days of course completion.

The Directorate of Medical Education had been consulted on what the minimum deposit should be, but they had referred the decision back to the FRA.

Consequently, the FRA has set the maximum deposit limit after conducting a thorough study of fees across colleges in the state, considering discrepancies, needs, and student complaints.

It is important to note that even though colleges are required to refund the deposit after the completion of the course, many have not done so.

The interest on this amount can be substantial, which is not acceptable. Colleges are not expected to profit according to the law, said FRA member Shirish Phadatre.