Shimla: Investigation into Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College

The Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HPPEIRC) has constituted a three-member committee to probe a series of complaints against Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital, Kumarhatti. The complaints allege delay in conducting examinations, debarring MBBS students from online classes, harassment, threat, fee-related issues, and others.

The decision to launch an investigation was taken in the wake of more than 30 complaints moved with the Commission alleging irregularities in Kumarhatti medical college.

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As per the latest media report by the Tribune India, the complaints include:

• Delay in conducting the examination
• Excess tuition fee, hostel fee, mess charges, and security deposit charged by the college
• Withholding supplementary exam results
• Debarring MBBS students from online classes
• Harassment and threat to students
• No transparency in management affairs

The Private Medical and Dental Colleges Student's Parents Association took the matter to the National Medical Commission (NMC), erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI). The association alleged before the NMC that the institute was intentionally delaying the third Prof Part-1 final examination.

They further alleged that the delay on the part of the institute was due to the fee revision issue raised by parents of the 2017-2018 batch. Thus, the association complained before NMC that the college was allegedly harassing the students.

The association further informed that in November 2019 as well, the college first declared the date sheet for the examination of the second Prof and then postponed it without any notice at all. The examination was finally held in March 2020 after the associates approached the HPPEIRC panel.

While commenting on the issue, Maj Gen Atul Kaushik (retd), Chairman, HPPEIRC told The Tribune that the Committee would scrutinize the matters related to:

• Excess tuition fee, hostel fee, mess charges, and security deposit
• Delay in conducting examinations
• Withholding supplementary exam results
• Debarring MBBS students from online classes
• Harassment and threat to students
• No transparency in management affairs

Earlier, there were two other complaints related to unhygienic conditions as well.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Panel received another complaint related to the verification of a BBA degree of the 2014 batch. The complainant also submitted the original degree obtained from a private university in Shimla.

Although the name of the student was missing in the admission disclosure as submitted by the University, it was in the list of the degrees distributed to students in 2017-18 by the said university. Addressing the issue, HPPEIRC Chairman said, "There was some confusion and we have given a complaint to the police to investigate the matter."

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