The Birgunj-based National Medical College has denied admission to post-graduate students from the second list of merit published by the Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, demanding extra payment.

The students were asked by the college to cough up more than Rs1.6 million on top of the Rs3.1 million set by the TU as fees for the post-graduate programme. The college is owned by Basruddin Ansari, who is also its managing director. Ansari is tipped to be the Birgunj Metropolitan City mayoral candidate from the UML for the upcoming phase of local elections.

It is illegal for medical colleges to demand money from students apart from the amount set by the TU. The denial of admission also violates the Supreme Court decision of July 20 that ordered enrolment of the meritorious students for the fees set by the university. Also, Dr Govinda KC, who has been on a fast-unto-death for 13 days, has called for admitting students on the merit list.

Eight students on the second merit list approached the admission in-charge in Birgunj on Friday. They were mainly from subjects like general surgery, ophthalmology and orthopaedics. The college told them that there would be no more admissions without paying extra money.

“We had to return to Kathmandu again. The colleges illegally demanded additional money,” said one of the students, requesting anonymity.

The extra Rs1.6 million has been sought for activities including community service, sports, examination, library, thesis evaluation and training. MD Ansari was not available for comments.

In its second merit list, the IoM recommended 17 students for the National Medical College in subjects including anaesthesiology, general practice, orthopaedics and paediatrics. For the Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, 13 students were recommended in courses including pathology, anaesthesiology, general practice, orthopaedics and paediatrics.

Apart from the Maharajgunj-based IoM, only the two TU-affiliated colleges run MD/MS programmes in the country.

In July, when the IoM published its first list of meritorious students, both the colleges turned back many candidates claiming that they had already enrolled students.

IoM Dean Dr Jagdish Prasad Agrawal said although they have not got formal complaints from students, it is illegal for medical colleges to charge more than the set fees.

“We will immediately probe the matter. There is no option for medical colleges but to comply with the merit list and the set fees,” said Dr Agrawal.