PUNE: Yet again as the Social Welfare Department failed to deposit the money towards the college fees of reserved category students, tension between ILS Law College administration and students grew further on Tuesday. The students alleged that the college is demanding the fees and fear they might not be allowed to appear for the examination if they don’t pay it.
Meanwhile, denying the allegations, college Principal Vijyanti Joshi told Sakal Times, “Why would the college demand money from students? There is a miscommunication regarding disbursement of the amount. Until last year, the college used to not charge any tuition fee or other university fees to these students (which has not been collected even this year). We would directly receive this amount in our college account, but from this year, it has been informed that the amount will be deposited in the students’ accounts only, along with their examination, maintenance, and other fees.”
“It appears that some of the students have received the amount. The college will issue a receipt of this amount to students whenever the amount is paid. How the college recovers its share of money from the students has become a big administrative problem. Our college is not the only aided-college to face this problem, there are several others as well,” added Joshi.
“We have decided that students will be allowed to fill their examination form and accordingly the administrative department has been asked to allow access of marksheet to students. We are hopeful that by the time hall tickets of all students arrive, this issue will be sorted. No student will face problems in appearing for the examination,” said Joshi.
Students of OBC/SC/VJNT category have stated that the college has made this demand because they have not received an amount of total colleges fees of 150 reserved category students from the Social Welfare Department, State government.
“Total college fees for reserved category is Rs 33,455 annually (which is to be paid by students only) and for general category students, it is Rs 37,680. The difference between these two fees is Rs 4,225, which is received from the State government. But since the State government hasn’t disbursed the institution fees, the college has asked the students from reserved category to pay this amount through the scholarship fee received via direct benefit transfer (DBT) from the State government,” said Deepak Chatap, fifth-year student of five years LLB course.
“Many of us have not received the scholarship amount. Nevertheless, how can college demand our scholarship fees, as the amount differs category wise? It includes tuition fees, maintenance fees, examination fees, etc. The issue is between college and State Social Welfare Department, then why are the students made to suffer,” asked Sachin Mane, third-year student of three years LLB course.
Earlier, college had refused to submit the application form of final year examination, which is due on February 28.
