The Tamil Nadu government has formally requested the National Medical Commission (NMC) and University Grants Commission (UGC) to investigate a private medical college over claims it is collecting excessive fees from students and restricting their access to academic systems for non-payment.
The complaint stems from Saveetha Medical College, where final-year MBBS students from the 2022 batch report being charged ₹24.75 lakh in tuition fees for the entire academic year. The college has allegedly disabled the attendance registration website (VStudy) for students who have not paid the full amount, blocking their access to internships and exams.
The state government’s letter to the NMC highlights that the college’s actions violate NMC norms, which prohibit charging fees beyond the prescribed 4.5-year academic duration for MBBS programs. The directive excludes the mandatory one-year internship, known as the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI), which is not part of the fee structure.
On April 7, 2026, the NMC issued a public notice explicitly warning medical colleges against charging fees for the full 5.5-year period. The Tamil Nadu government’s intervention follows complaints from students and parents, who argue the college is demanding fees for the internship year despite the NMC’s clear guidelines. The state has also asked the NMC to restore access to the attendance system for affected students and ensure no penalties are imposed for raising the issue.
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Operating under a deemed-to-be university status, Saveetha Medical College falls outside the jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu’s Tuition Fee Fixation Committee. This exemption may have allowed the college to enforce the disputed fee structure without state-level oversight. The Health Department, led by Minister KG Arunraj, confirmed the complaints in a press release, emphasizing that the college’s actions appear to disregard NMC regulations.
Investigations revealed that access to the attendance website was suspended for non-paying students as early as September 30. The college’s administration has not publicly addressed the allegations, though the state’s intervention suggests a pattern of non-compliance with national medical education standards. Previous NMC warnings indicate that violations of fee structures could lead to regulatory action, including potential penalties or loss of accreditation.
Students affected by the fee demands and website restrictions have reportedly faced disruptions to their academic progress, including difficulties in registering attendance and securing exam eligibility. The state’s push for a refund or adjustment of the excess fees reflects concerns that students may have been overcharged without proper justification.
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