The Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors' Association (APJUDA) has challenged the private medical colleges in the state to prove that they have the required infrastructure, staff and facilities as per the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines.

In a statement issued in Hyderabad on Sunday, APJUDA president Dr B Prabhakar said the private colleges had done away with the free seats and increased management seats from 15 per cent to 50 per cent of the total seats.

"These private colleges were not functioning as per the MCI guidelines and at the same are charging even for free seats, making medical education a business venture," Dr Prabhakar said.

On behalf of the Association, Dr Prabhakar asked the government to immediately close down these colleges.

The Association had earlier objected to the proposed fee hike in private colleges from the present Rs 15,000 per annum to Rs 1.75 lakh for the government seats and Rs 4 lakh for the management seats.

There is a stalemate in the talks between the government and the managements regarding the fee structure and the seats quota for the management. APJUDA is acting as a pressure group against any fee hike.