Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has directed the Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhuj to deposit Rs 12 lakh with the Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Verma Kachchh University, which is demanding Rs 34 lakh towards affiliation fees and penalty for late submissions and Goods and Services Tax (GST).The university has asked for Rs 1.65 lakh affiliation fees for each of the 21 courses that the medical college offers. The medical college has raised a dispute over the penalty amount by citing the newly introduced Gujarat Public Universities Act, which provides for one consolidated penalty and interest. As the medical college’s petition was pending before the HC, it was required to submit the certificates of affiliation to the regulatory body in order to get more seats for the postgraduate courses. The college’s counsel submitted in the HC that the university authorities are avoiding signing the forms for affiliation, and this might result in the institute losing the extra seats. Ultimate sufferers would be the students and society at large. The college’s counsel submitted that since the college is running against time with a deadline to submit the affiliation certificates by April 20, it is ready to deposit Rs 12 lakh with the HC registry towards a consolidated amount of penalty and late fee demanded by the university to show its bona fide. However, the university’s advocate insisted that the amount be deposited with the university. He also assured that the university authorities have no objection to signing the certificates of affiliation of the college for each of the 21 courses. Following these assurances, Justice Nirzar Desai stated, “In view of the above submissions, as well as considering the fact that the total amount demanded by the respondent University in respect of each course comes to around Rs 34 lakh, the interest of justice would be served if the petitioner is directed to deposit an amount of Rs 12 lakh with the respondent University by April 23.” The HC also directed the university to “cooperate and countersign whatever forms are required for an increase of courses in the petitioner college. Such formality is directed to be completed latest by the evening of April 18.” Further hearing on the medical college’s petition has been posted on June 25.
