As criticism mounts, DSEU invites submissions on fee hikes, says will consider refunds

A statement issued by the administration on Sunday read, “Any written representation received from the students on roll of the DSEU regarding their recently increased fee issue (duly forwarded to DSEU Headquarters by their concerned Campus Directors) would be placed before the Finance Committee and the Board of Management of DSEU, which is empowered to take the final decisions in the matter of fees.”

The concerns will be presented before the finance committee and the board on Wednesday, said Dr Pankaj Shyam Lathar, Joint Director (Public Relations).

According to the administration, fees for previously enrolled batches “seem to have increased” because the university used to follow a reduced fee structure, which it says is no longer allowed.

Vice-Chancellor Ashok Kumar Nagawat said the accepted tuition fee structure was the current one and that students paid less than the actual fees last year.

“There is misinformation being spread through groups on social media, which is mobilising students against the administration.‘Khabre Vidyarthi’, for example, has misguided students by saying fees for courses of previous batches have increased but in reality, only tuition fees for new academic cycles have increased and we allowed a fee waiver for the students,” he said.

The last date to pay semester fees is July 29.

The vice-chancellor said that students would get fee refunds if a particular course fee is relaxed as per decisions in the upcoming finance committee meeting, adding that a fee waiver for students of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Economically Weaker Section categories would also be considered.

Aawaz, the university’s students union, said in a statement, “We request that the fees be reduced to the levels of the 2021 fee structure because the students come from economically backward backgrounds. We also need an extension of time for fee payment.”

For the current academic session, DSEU has revoked its fee concession for the SC/ST and EWS students.

“We appeal to the students of DSEU to not be misguided by outsiders or join hands with bad elements in any protest or any attempt to defame the university,” the university said in its statement.