Srinagar, Dec 13: Notwithstanding the claims of Café Coffee Day, that its outlet at Kashmir University would offer subsidy to students and academicians, the CCD levies tax of 13% on every commodity sold at the swanky outlet. The taxing has evoked sharp criticism from the consumers.
 According to the vouchers of the CCD, the cafe-goers are being charged 13 % tax on anything ranging from a cup of coffee to juice can.
 The student community is pestered. “I bought a bottle of juice and was charged four rupees extra tax,” said a student, Rouf Ahmad.
 Rouf said the other day he was charged five rupees tax on a coffee cup. “I fail to understand how the CCD can charge tax on students. The CCD had advertised that it would provide eatables at subsidized rates. But leave the subsidy aside, they are taxing us,” he said.
 The students said university administration was “acting mute to this fleecing”. “If the administration does not know that students are being taxed, then how could the varsity agree to allow them open outlet here?” argued a group of students.
 Moreover, the students said the CCD is offering eatables at far higher prices than normal canteens in other universities. “The CCD gives a bottle of juice at Rs 60,” said Ishtiyak Ahmad a student.
 Academicians have also shown resentment over taxing. “From the very beginning we have been denied to speak on the policy issues. The establishment of CCD was itself fishy and now when it has started to charge tax, there seems no caretaker of students,” a teacher from the Department of Law, wishing not to be identified, said.
 He said it was even mysterious whether the tenders were floated for the establishment of CCD or not. “It is all special arrangement for special people. You see nobody talks of general student community. The university has failed to address some basic issues while facilitating grand alien things in the campus,” he added.
 Interestingly the taxing goes against the claims of varsity officials, who had said the cafeterias in the varsity would be made student-friendly. The Registrar KU Prof Zaffar Ahmad Reshi said the matter would be “looked into.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST