Maharashtra’s admission authority has ordered a private medical college to admit a postgraduate student after it demanded excess fees. The Admission Regulating Authority (ARA) acted on a complaint from a student denied admission by Dr. Rajendra Gode Medical College in Amravati.
The student, who secured an MS (ENT) seat in the third round of NEET PG counselling, alleged the college demanded ₹60 lakh. This amount exceeded the ₹42 lakh approved by the Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA) by ₹18 lakh.
College officials reportedly refused to confirm admission until the higher fee was paid. The ARA convened an online hearing to address the complaint.
College Responds to Fee Demand
During the hearing, the college stated the ₹60 lakh demand was an ad-hoc fee. They informed the ARA that the final fee for the 2025-26 academic year would be determined by the FRA.
ARA Mandate for Admission
The ARA has instructed the college to complete the student’s admission process. The college must charge only the FRA-approved fee. No additional amount is permitted.
The college must notify the student of this decision. A report detailing the admission must be submitted to the state CET Cell. The ARA warned of further action if these instructions are not followed.
Student Confirmation and Fee Resolution
The student is scheduled to confirm their admission on February 18 . The ARA noted that a misunderstanding regarding the fees has been resolved after discussions between the student and college officials.
The Maharashtra CET Cell manages NEET PG counselling within the state.
Understanding Medical College Fees
Fees for private unaided medical colleges in Maharashtra are set by the FRA. This determination is based on the institutes’ financial data, including income and expenditure.
For new programs like the PG course at Dr. Rajendra Gode Medical College, an initial ad-hoc fee is established. This fee is later adjusted after the institute submits a formal proposal.
Previous Fee Disputes
This incident follows similar complaints regarding alleged capitation fees and admission refusals during undergraduate admissions in Maharashtra. In past cases, the ARA has intervened to provide relief to affected students.