Punjabi Varsity Pupils Seek Fee Hike Rollback In Patiala

With the Punjabi University increasing the cost of prospectus and charges for forms like that for re-appearing in exams, students of Punjabi University have formed a joint action committee to protest the fee hike.

They met various officials of the university, seeking rollback in the hike. They threatened a protesting dharna against the university authorities.

Talking to media people, Jagjit Singh Panjoli and Gagandeep Diva said that the university had increased the prospectus charge from Rs 700 to Rs 900, re-appear fee from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500, correction fee from Rs 250 to 350 and other form fee from Rs 100 to Rs 200 without intimating the students about this in advance, saying this would hit their pockets hard. The university authorities feel it is totally unjustified on part of the students to protest the “meager” hike as the university had not increased the fee at all in the past three years.

A University professor said that what the university is charging is very less as compared to other varsities in Punjab. It has not increased the fee at all in the past three years, while the expenditure has been climbing due to pay scale revision and release of DA and other incentives. In fact, this hike does not affect the students at all but some political groups are deliberately making an issue out of it.

Dr Pawan Kumar Singla, controller of examinations, said that the cost of conducting the exam has been increasing by 20 to 25 per cent each year. I feel increasing the fee by 10 per cent that too after more than three years, should not really matter to the students, keeping in mind the liabilities we have and the facilities we are providing.