KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Despite ‘clear-cut’ directions in writing from the University of Kashmir to SSM College of Engineering and Technology Srinagar to collect Rs 37,800 per year from each student, the college authorities ‘continue to force’ students to pay Rs 75,000 as fee per year, the act that has even baffled the Assistant Registrar Academics Kashmir University.
Scores of students from SSM College of Engineering and Technology Srinagar Monday staged a massive protest against the college authorities and alleged that in the name of education, the college authorities have been resorting to “loot” and have even been “refusing” to acknowledge the directions from Kashmir University.
The protesting SSM B-Tech college students from Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Computers told CNS that there are clear-cut directions from Kashmir University to the said college to collect Rs 37,800 per year from each student but to their surprise and shock, “the college has been demanding Rs 75,000 per year from each student.”
The students alleged that College authorities are looting the students and in the name of education, the head of the College wants to “fill her coffers”.
The students displayed the Kashmir University Circular duly signed by Assistant Registrar Academics. The circular reads, “it is notified for information of all the concerned that in absence of the instructions of the government to the contrary, the Vice Chancellor has authorized that the tuition fee of Rs 37,500 as prescribed for B-Tech / BE course be charged from those students also as are admitted to the same courses under lateral entry mode.”
“This is injustice towards us. Where from we can arrange such hefty amount? The government and University must make the college authorities accountable so that they cannot loot us,” protesting students said and sought the intervention of Higher Education Minister.
“The SSM College head is misleading the Kashmir University authorities. She assures University authorities that she will charge only Rs 37,800 from students and when we approach her office, she demands Rs 75,000 from us. We want to submit the fee in the presence of Assistant Registrar or Dean Colleges,” the students said.
When contacted Dean Colleges said that the head of the SSM College has already been informed through a written circular that she is entitled to charge only Rs 37,800 from the students and even she has obliged and accepted all this. “I fail to understand whey students have been protesting when the College has agreed to follow our directions. I will definitely look into the matter,” Dean Colleges Mustafa Shah said.
