VTU panel to probe 'extra fee' row at DK college

The Visvesvaraya Technological University has constituted a three-member panel to look into the complaints of ‘extra fee’ collected by Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering, Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada (DK).

The students of the college had written to the Higher Education Department that the college had not only demanded fee for the next academic year before the end-semester exam of 2012-13 ended, but was also collecting extra fees of up to Rs 25,750 from them, every year. The panel will visit the college on Friday and submit a report to Department on Saturday, said VTU Registrar K E Prakash. Principal Secretary to Higher Education Department, Rajneesh Goel, has asked the varsity to submit a report.

The fee fixed for engineering course at private unaided colleges is Rs 38,090. The students alleged that the fee was not uniform and depended on how much one could bargain. The college was demanding them to pay the fee before the semester exam on June 17, failing which they will not be allowed to appear for the exam.

Normally, fee for the new academic year is collected either in July or August, after the end-semester exam results are out. This college issued a circular on April 16, 2013, demanding the fees. A copy of the receipts for the extra and annual fee, is available with Deccan Herald. When some students said they could not pay the sum, the college issued them duplicate hall tickets, valid only for the practical exam. Such students were asked to give in writing that they were unable to pay the fee presently.

“Why should we give it in writing that we are not able to afford the fees when the due date is not even anywhere near?” a student sought to know. Parents alleged that the faculty in the institute were “trying to find out” the students involved in complaining to the higher officials. The VTU panel has asked the students to produce receipts supporting their allegations during its visit on Friday.

“Students have practical exams going on. It would be difficult to manage time amidst it. Moreover, the college is trying to identify students who gave the complaint instead of addressing the issue,” said the parent of a student in the college, requesting anonymity. Students have requested the committee to allow them send the receipts by e-mail.

The college has been collecting the university registration fee time and again, when it is supposed to be paid only once, at the time of admissions. The situation is worse for those who got admitted through lateral entry into second year engineering, only last October.

“Within a few days after paying the fee to the government, the college collected Rs1,800 towards university registration charges. They also demanded an extra Rs 28,000. A few months later, we are faced with another shocker,” added the parent.