Ahmednagar: A deemed-to-be University based in Ahmednagar, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) allegedly demanded excessive fees from a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) aspirant and when the student refused to pay the same, denied her admission.
Taking up the issue, the student has already filed a complaint to the Ayush Admissions Central Counselling Committee (AACCC), the college admission authority under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy).
In her complaint, the student alleged that the concerned institute turned away meritorious students in the first phase of institute-level admissions held in between November 9 and November 16.
Further, she claimed that students who had scored relatively lower marks in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam were admitted to the institute in lieu of capitation fees.
The concerned college received recognition after the centralised rounds of admission for the undergraduate Ayush courses. AACCC granted permission to the concerned institute to fill all the 100 BAMS seats at the institute level. Before the commencement of the second-phase of admission, the college filled up 43 of its 100 seats, adds FPJ.
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As per the latest media report by the Free Press Journal, the father of the complainant student alleged that he was devasted after the college authorities asked them to pay Rs 10 lakh in addition to Rs 5 lakh fee approved for the institute. Commenting on the matter, he added, "My child had secured seats at two other colleges but had turned it down to seek admission at this college due to its repute and proximity to our home. However, when the college asked for the excessive amount, we told them that it was difficult for us to manage even the regular fees. They then refused admission to us, even as other students with much lower scores were admitted."
Now the student does not have any other option but to lose a year and take part in the next admission cycle, adds the Daily. Meanwhile, the principal of the college, Khalid Ambekar claimed that he was not involved with the admission process and directed to Amol Sargar, an aide to Rajendra Vikhe-Patil, chancellor of the PIMS.
"The rules and regulations for deemed-to-be universities are different from the colleges affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS). The students are not aware of many things. I don't suppose any rules have been flouted in admission," he added.
Speaking to FPJ, the Vice Chancellor PIMS, Vishnu Mahare added that he was not aware of the issue. He mentioned, "I will respond after enquiring about it."
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