Fee regulatory panel for action against CSI MC authorities

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Admission and supervisory committee for medical education in Kerala, headed by justice Rajendra Babu, recommended the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against officials and office-bearers of Dr Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College, Karakkonam, on charges of collecting huge sums of money from MBBS/PG course aspirants.
Criminal proceedings are recommended against CSI bishop A Dharmaraj Rassalam, medical college’s former director Dr Bennet Abraham and former administrative officer of the college P Thankaraj.The committee passed the recommendation after going through the complaints filed by 24 persons that the medical college collected huge amounts from them promising admission for their wards in the medical college and failed to provide the same.It was also alleged that payments were made after consulting with either Abraham or Thankaraj or bishop Rassalam.
“On a consideration of the complaints, evidence and all the circumstances, the committee recommended the government under sector 8 (4) of Act of 2017 to take appropriate steps against the college to refund the amount collected from the complainants and to initiate criminal proceedings against the college officials and the office-bearers, viz the bishop Rt Rev A Dharmaraj Rassalam, Dr Bennet Abraham and Sri Thankaraj in accordance with law,” the order dated August 19 said.
“It was stated in the objection filed by the officials and office-bearers that the college was keeping a parallel register wherein the amounts thus collected were entered. But their statements do not disclose as to who was keeping the amount and handling the same, as none of them has a case that money was deposited in any bank or in any particular account. So, when there was change of the office-bearers of the committee, there should be a transfer of the money too. But the statements do not disclose anything about the money or the transfer or handing over of money. The statements would reveal that the money was received and kept by Thankaraj. The collection of huge amount of money from aspiring students in advance promising admission is not a healthy practice that can be permitted to continue,” the order said.