Kerala introduces bill in Assembly to regulate private medical colleges

New Delhi: A bill to regulate the admissions and fee structure for private medical colleges in Kerala has been introduced in the state assembly on Monday.

'The Kerala Medical Education (Regulation and Control of admissions to private medical institutions) Bill, 2017' seeks to provide reserved seats to the students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and other backward classes (OBC) in private medical institutes.

Reportedly, the government has received several complaints of improper practices regarding the admission process. This has led to the enactment of a legislation to regulate admission procedures and fee structure in private colleges across the state.

According to the bill, a 11-member Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee will be determining the admission process and fee. The body will be headed by a retired judge of the supreme court.

Also, the bill provides a provision to people whoever is dissatisfied with the committee's direction can appeal before the high court within 30 days of such orders.

The bill, once passed, will replace the existing Kerala Medical Education (Regulation and Control of Admission to private medical Educational Institutions) Ordinance which was introduced back in April 2017.

(With PTI inputs)