Former BJP leader K. Annamalai on Tuesday expressed shock that three medical educational institutions have been granted deemed university status, contending that it would directly impact the admission of students selected under the 7.5% reservation for government school students. "The fee expected to be paid by students admitted to these colleges will be quadrupled, at the least."

Mr. Annamalai urged the TVK government to conduct a detailed probe into this matter and ensure that those responsible for this gross willful negligence be punished. "The future of aspiring medical students cannot be made collateral damage by administrative apathy or political negligence. Their dreams of pursuing affordable medical education must not be stalled or sacrificed because those in power fail to act in time."

While the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University has clarified that it has not issued an NOC to either of the three institutions to apply for deemed university status, Mr. Annamalai referred to certain provisions of the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2022, as per which the UGC would presume that the State government has no objection to the issuance of deemed university status if the affiliating university did not object within 60 days.