While college has denied allegations, students say they were told to pay the fees by March 10 or face legal action in a message sent by a college teacher on a WhatsApp group
The students approached the MNVS, whose activists met the college administration recently
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, when school fees have been a contentious issue, the fee charged by a college has also come under the scanner. Students from a Ghatkopar college have alleged that they were threatened with legal action over non-payment of fees. The college administration denied the claim, saying that several students have not paid the fees but academic activities have not been stopped.
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Students at Ghatkopar’s Pune Vidyarthi Gruha’s College of Science and Technology complained that the administration is insisting on payment of full fees before March 10. The students were told about this by a teacher on a college WhatsApp group (mid-day has a screenshot of the message).
“Families of several students are going through a major financial crisis. Some of the students’ parents have lost jobs too. It has become difficult to pay fees,” said a student. In case of failure to meet the deadline, the students were told to meet the principal with parents before March 13, failing which the message said they’d face legal action. “The government has been talking about relaxing fees, but nothing is done in colleges. There are so many college services not being used right now. Yet they are asking for full fess,” said another student.
The students have approached the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) for help. “The college is not only threatening students but also charging regular fees under heads like project fee, laboratory fee, library fee. The entire academic year has been online. Why should students pay for these services? Also, the college’s development fee is much more than the varsity’s prescribed amount,” said Santosh Gangurde, vice-president, MNVS. Gangurde visited the college with students to meet the administration.
Principal Dr. Ajay Pathak denied the claims. “There is no such notice about legal action. The message on WhatsApp cannot be considered as official communication by the college. Instead of panicking, the students should approach the principal for clarity. There are students who have not paid fees for the last academic year, too. But we have continued all academic activities. In many cases, the administration has paid the exam fee for students to the varsity.”
Pathak added, “Lately, we are being approached by students who want to leave the college and are demanding Leaving Certificates even as their fees are pending. In some cases, even ATKTs are continued. In such a situation, can the administration not ask such defaulters to meet the principal and share their status? We have provided an extension to many and will help others too, as per the trust’s policy.”
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