College fee cut: HC to hear matter today
High Court
State, FRC, UGC told to file replies in response to plea seeking waiver of fee other than tuition fees State, FRC, UGC told to file replies in response to plea seeking waiver of fee other than tuition fees
The Gujarat High Court, on Thursday, asked the state government, the Fee Regulatory Committee and the University Grants Commission to submit a reply in response to a petition seeking to waive off fees other than tuition fees being charged by thecolleges across the state. The court will conduct the hearing on Friday.
In its application before HC, NGO Bridge Forum For All argued that colleges should not charge fees forlibrary , sports activities and under other heads barring tuition fees as they have not conducted such activities due to Covid-19. The court asked the respective parties to file a reply. It will hear the matter on Friday.
“There is a grave and urgent issue pertaining to charging of unfair fees by private universities or institutes for current semester in time of Covid-19pandemic , wherein the parents are finding it financially difficult and distressing to gather funds for depositing their children’s college fees. The lackadaisical and inconsiderate attitude adopted by the unaided universities/institutes has further made the parents and guardians economically vulnerable,” the petition stated.
It further stated, “All the universities under the guise of online classes are demanding payment of full fees without taking into due consideration the change in circumstances.
Full collection of fees is being done without application of mind and without giving due regard to the disproportionate impact the lockdown has had on the livelihood of families of the students.”
Regarding the private universities, the plea stated, “The private universities and institutes were functional only for a limited period of time in the previous semester (1-2 months). After the issuance of lockdown orders by respective authorities the universities were closed and thus remained completely unused by students and for most of the time by faculties. They had to remain completely shut and unserviceable. However, despite these circumstances no reduction in expenses has been passed on to the students for which the fees were already collected.”
Highlighting the economic conditions of students and their guardians, the petition stated, “Students across the State are in an extremely vulnerable situation inasmuch as universities and institutes are not only charging the full fees but are also threatening to levy penalty for late payment. It ought to be noted that the impact of the pandemic has been devastating across all sectors of the economy with several families finding it tough to make ends meet. Thus, in the time of this pandemic, it is incumbent on private universities to not exploit the already worsened situations of its students by utilizing their bargaining power in terms of charging unpayable fees.” The state had earlier issued a notification askingprivate schools to not charge fees other than tuition fees. However, private school management are reluctant to accept the directive.
The Gujarat High Court, on Thursday, asked the state government, the Fee Regulatory Committee and the University Grants Commission to submit a reply in response to a petition seeking to waive off fees other than tuition fees being charged by the
In its application before HC, NGO Bridge Forum For All argued that colleges should not charge fees for
“There is a grave and urgent issue pertaining to charging of unfair fees by private universities or institutes for current semester in time of Covid-19
It further stated, “All the universities under the guise of online classes are demanding payment of full fees without taking into due consideration the change in circumstances.
Full collection of fees is being done without application of mind and without giving due regard to the disproportionate impact the lockdown has had on the livelihood of families of the students.”
Regarding the private universities, the plea stated, “The private universities and institutes were functional only for a limited period of time in the previous semester (1-2 months). After the issuance of lockdown orders by respective authorities the universities were closed and thus remained completely unused by students and for most of the time by faculties. They had to remain completely shut and unserviceable. However, despite these circumstances no reduction in expenses has been passed on to the students for which the fees were already collected.”
Highlighting the economic conditions of students and their guardians, the petition stated, “Students across the State are in an extremely vulnerable situation inasmuch as universities and institutes are not only charging the full fees but are also threatening to levy penalty for late payment. It ought to be noted that the impact of the pandemic has been devastating across all sectors of the economy with several families finding it tough to make ends meet. Thus, in the time of this pandemic, it is incumbent on private universities to not exploit the already worsened situations of its students by utilizing their bargaining power in terms of charging unpayable fees.” The state had earlier issued a notification asking
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