Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, May12: With a threefold increase in examination fee by Kashmir University, the students have expressed their shock over the sudden hike and accused administration of turning the varsity into money making machine. The students of SSM Engineering College at Parihaspora and it’s Zakura Campus have demanded immediate roll back of the fee hike.
The infuriated students said earlier they used to pay just Rs.1150 as examination fee “but when they submitted their examination form this time a receipt of Rs.3375 came in their favour”. A student of Engineering said: “I was shocked to see the amount as I had no spare money in my pocket. How can they hike the fee three times without letting anyone know? It is un-affordable for us.”
The students said that their exams are going to be held in coming days and increase in fee is “totally unacceptable” as “they cannot pay such a huge amount at once”. “This is sheer injustice towards the students. Instead of minting money from the poor students, the Kashmir University should find ways and means to improve the standard of education,” they said.
As per the new fee policy drafted by Kashmir University, the students will have to pay Rs. 250 per paper unlike earlier when students had to pay Rs. 1050 irrespective of the number of papers they were appearing. In Rs. 1150 which students are paying presently include Rs.1000 for examination fee, Rs.100 for maintenance and Rs. 50 for other expenses.
Stating that the additional fee charged would be refunded, the Dean Management and Commerce Studies, Kashmir University, Professor Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, when contacted claimed: “It (Rs. 3375) was the mistake from the examination board and they have misunderstood the new fee policy.It was a fault of the board which has been resolved and the students which were charged more will be refunded.
“They have asked students to deposit separate practical and theoretical examination which otherwise is covered under one subject. The Dean has recommended Rupees 60 per credit examination fee now and none has to pay more than that. There was a maintenance hike of just rupees 100 but we need to understand the whole policy.”
Prof Khursheed said that he has submitted a 19 page document wherein he had attempted to make the whole system accountable.
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