PU panel for 5% fee hike across courses

A high-powered committee of Panjab University has recommended 5% tuition fee hike for students across courses. Dean, university instructions, (DUI) AK Bhandari, who heads the committee, held a meeting of the panel at the vice-chancellor’s office on Friday, but around 10 members skipped the meeting, including various senators.

A high-powered committee of Panjab University has recommended 5% tuition fee hike for students across courses.

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Dean, university instructions, (DUI) AK Bhandari, who heads the committee, held a meeting of the panel at the vice-chancellor’s office on Friday, but around 10 members skipped the meeting, including various senators.

The PU is likely to earn nearly Rs 1.5 crore from the proposed fee hike. Half of the collected money will be spent on student welfare.

“When the matter is placed before PU syndicate, a detailed report on scholarships for students will be submitted,” a committee member said.

The recommendation would be put up before the syndicate meeting and the PU would try to enforce it from coming academic session.

A source said that the recommendation had been that fee hi ke be imposed on all students, and not only on those seeking fresh admission in the university.

Chandan Rana, president, Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC), who represented the students in the meeting, said that the authorities were proposing 15% fee hike. “We bargained hard and also ensured that half the money collected as fee be utilised for poor students,” he said.

Students for Society (SFS) and Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) have threatened to launch a stir.