Presidency University students on an indefinite sit-in-demonstration against hike of counselling fee

KOLKATA: The Academic atmosphere at prestigious Presidency University here has been affected since Thursday as scores of students have been on a sit-in-demonstration demanding reduction of counselling fee and publication of merit list for admission to undergraduate courses.

The agitating students have virtually laid a siege to some of the teaching community members at the administrative building in the campus since Thursday afternoon, saying they would intensify the protest until the Presidency University authorities lessen counselling fee to Rs 100 from Rs 500.

The institution of national eminence situated at College Street in central Kolkata has hiked counselling fee to Rs 500 from Rs 100 from this academic year.

A protesting student alleged that they have already paid the registration fee of Rs 500 and another Rs 500 for counselling, which was "unjustified."

He alleged since all the students, who would pay for counselling fee, may not get admission and hence Rs 500 would be forfeited.

The students have also been demanding publication of merit list or else the agitation, which has backing from all students' units like SFI, AISA and others would be intensified.

The sit-in-demonstration virtually held captive the vice-chancellor, registrar and some Deans and many officials for the past 20 hours.

The members of Independent Consolidation (IC), a students' organisation, also supported the agitation.

Presidency University Registrar Debojyoti Konar said, "They have no role in the issue as the entire counselling process is conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) Board and counselling fee hike is its decision.

" The university conducts Presidency University Bachelor Degree Entrance Test 2018 which is an undergraduate course and the counselling is done by WBJEE.

The agitation at the President University happened immediately after the Jadavpur University had week-long agitation to protest scrapping of admission tests for new students in Arts for undergraduate subjects.

Meanwhile, JU VC Suranjan Das, who had threatened to quit, sought an appointment with the Chancellor and Governor K S Tripathi.