Does that sound like the money-back policy of a finance company? No it is not. It is what the managements of private dental college are telling their new entrants. Especially those who got admissions on merit.

These colleges are demanding a sum of Rs 42,300 in addition to the stipulated Rs 13,000 from students allotted free seats by the Common Entrance Test (CET) cell. And for what purpose? To pay the students their stipend during internship.

Students and parents are, however, not amused by this. They are now a confused lot. ``Why should we pay such a hefty amount which the colleges claim would be repaid in the form of stipend after four years? The college has set a deadline for the amount to be paid, failing which, the seat would be forfeited'', complained a parent whose son obtained a free dental seat in the Vokkaligara Sangha Dental College.

Another parent, who called this newspaper office, lamentedthat he was finding it difficult to mobilise the required amount. ``All of a sudden, we were asked to pay an excess fee of Rs 42,300. I was not prepared to pay such a hefty amount'', he said.

Dental colleges, meanwhile, defended the collection of an advance amount towards payment of stipend.``Private dental colleges, which don't get any financial aid from the Government, are expected to pay stipends. Where do we get funds for it ?'', asked a management representative.

When contacted, Vokkaligara Sangha Dental College Principal Dr M Lakshmaiah justified the decision to collect the excess amount from student towards the payment of stipend later. The college management did not want to create any disparity among the students, he claimed. A similar amount is being collected from students who get in under the `management quota' of capitation-paid seats also, they claimed.

``While the management paid stipends to students who got admitted under the management quota, merit students were denied of this leading toa disparity. The college management cannot be expected to pay stipend to all its students and hence a decision was taken this year to collect a specified amount towards the payment of stipend'', he said.

Lakshmaiah further explained that the amount collected as caution deposit and stipend would be refunded. ``The amount of Rs 10,000 being collected as caution deposit and Rs 30,000 for stipend will be refunded to students at the end of the course. Parents need not worry about this'', he said.

Besides, Dr Lakshmaiah said, students have been given adequate time to pay the amount. ``We are considerate towards parents and have asked them to pay the amount before classes begin'', he added.

Meanwhile, Medical Education Department Secretary Dr K Jothiramalingam claimed ignorance about the matter.