Committee to address students' grievances on excess fees

In view of increasing complaints against private professional colleges charging more than the prescribed fee, the state government has constituted a committee headed by Justice Keshavanarayana to address students’ grievances.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bharat Lal Meena, Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education) confirmed that a committee had been formed. The term of the panel set up for 2015-16, ended in December last year.

Following a large number of complaints received by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) from students and parents on excess fees, the KEA authorities wrote to the government seeking the setting up of a new panel, S N Gangadhariah, Administrative Officer, KEA, said. “A government order with regard to the formation of the committee has been issued,” said Meena. The last date for reporting to colleges for admissions was Thursday (July 7, 2016).

Very recently, a Scheduled Caste student who had secured a government quota seat in a private college, chose to opt out, as the college had demanded an additional fee of Rs 1 lakh.

The additional fees charged by the colleges range between Rs 20,000 and Rs 1 lakh, or even more. Under the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006, two committees have to be constituted - one for fee fixation and the other to monitor admissions. No such committees have been formed this time.