PMK to step up protest if govt continues capitation fee

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Chennai, July 2 (UNI) The war of words between the PMK, a key ally of the DMK-led DPA in Tamil Nadu, and State Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy over collection of capitation fees by private educational institutions, intensified today with the former threatening to step up the protest if steps were not taken to prevent it.

Leading an agitation organised by his party in front of the Chennai District Collectorate to protest against collection of capitation fees, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss claimed that the standard of Higher Education Department had deteriorated in the State.

''We have been holding protests against the collection of capitation fee in colleges, but to no avail. The deemed universities, medical colleges and self- financing engineering colleges have turned into money-making centres'', he said.

''It is pathetic that the colleges in Tamil Nadu fleece the students compared to other neighbouring States. However, Mr Ponmudi had said that he had not received any complaints in this regard'', he bemoaned.

Parents of over 120 students have come together to form an association and lodged complaints in this regard to the Chief Minister, the Education Minister, senior officials of the Higher Education Department, Vice-Chancellor of Madras University and Director of Medical Education. They have also filed a petition in the Madras High Court, he pointed out.

''If the State government did not take steps to prevent collection of huge money as capitation fee, then the PMK would be forced to intensify their protests'', he warned.

It may be recalled that Dr Ramadoss wanted to know why the government was not taking action against the colleges collecting exorbitant fees though there was a law enacted in 1992 which prohibits colleges from levying capitation fees and that those charging such fees would face up to seven years of imprisonment.

To this query from PMK, Mr Ponmudy had said that the government could not approach the court based on the reports appearing in newspapers and media. ''Unless proper evidence is given, the court would not accept the case against private colleges'', he contended.

Speaking on the occasion, PMK president G K Mani urged Mr Ponmudy to concentrate on solving the issue rather than indulging in war of words with the PMK. ''The condition of Higher Secondary Education is worse compared to the previous AIADMK regime'', he added.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi should give priority to the issue and solve it, he said.

UNI

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X