Srinagar, June 8: The Kashmir University (KU) post graduate students of batch 2020 complained against arbitrary hike in the examination by the authorities.
A group of aggrieved students while opposing the fee hike said the prevailing disaster created by the Covid-19 round the globe especially in Kashmir has affected every nook and corner due to the prolonged lockdown.
“Unfortunately, the KU has given a hike to examination fee which has left the students in a state of mental agony,” student said.
The student said the exam will be conducted through online mode by using a Google form which will have minimum expenditure for the university.
“But ironically the university is charging the fee under different heads which is completely unacceptable,” the student said.
The students are charged RS 2025 as examination fee under which the University is charging students an amount of Rs 37 for concerned department per candidate, Rs 313 for controller examination, Rs 1300 to Registrar KU and Rs 375 to IT and SS department.
“We fail to understand why we have to pay the fee at registrar office and other charges. The university should have relaxed the fee keeping in view the ongoing pandemic situation. But it is going against the interest of students,” the student said.
They said the enrolled students in the university come from different backgrounds and the current situation has affected almost every household.
“And at the same time we are going to appear in the Examination through online mode for which we are being asked to pay the Examination fee which is a matter of concern during lockdown,” the student said.
“The fee we are being asked to pay is only to be paid when the examination is to be conducted in offline mode to bear the expenses like printing of papers, stationary, answer sheets, examination duty manpower. When the exams are to be conducted through online mode no such requirements are needed,” they said.
The students urged the J&K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha, Vice Chancellor and Registrar KU to look into the matter.
Dean Academic Affairs KU, Prof. Shabir Ahmad Bhat said the varsity has not given any hike in the exam fees but the matter will be taken up with the Vice Chancellor (VC) to help the students. “Let us be hopeful that if students can get some sort of help with the intervention of VC,” he said.