Aimed at curbing student exploitation, the Fees Regulatory Authority (FRA) has issued a stern warning to private medical colleges across Maharashtra. The FRA has directed institutions to cease charging hefty amounts in the form of caution money, library deposits, and other fees under various heads not approved by the authority.

During a meeting on August 28, the FRA highlighted several instances where colleges had been charging exorbitant amounts under the guise of caution money and other deposits at the time of admission. “These practices have been deemed exploitative, with some institutions collecting sums that far exceed the fees prescribed by the regulatory body,” said S Ramamoorthy, Member Secretary FRA.