No clarity on university exams yet, but students asked to pay the fee Colleges Charge Fee Up To ₹2K, Students Fume

No clarity on university exams yet, but students asked to pay the fee

Colleges Charge Fee Up To ₹2K, Students Fume

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: 04.06.2020

Though a decision on conducting university examinations in the state is pending, many colleges and state universities continue to charge examination fee from students.

While hearing a case on the common entrance tests (CETs) on June 30, the Telangana high court sought to know from the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) and state universities whether they want to do away with the undergraduate and postgraduate exams for now. The bench asked TSCHE and the universities to respond to it by July 9.

Students, however, raised concerns over the higher education institutions’ move to collect exam fee without any clarity on whether the exams will be held or not. Many colleges and universities have issued notification seeking payment of exam fee in the range of ₹500 to ₹2,000. In the absence of clear guidelines from the government on resumption of classes, the move has irked students.

“The university is constantly extending the last date for payment of examination fee. On the notification, it clearly states that fee once paid cannot be refunded or adjusted for any future examination,” said Vamshi Reddy, a management student. He raised concerns over refund by the universities and colleges if the examination is postponed/cancelled.

Students have called for boycott of exam fee until there is clarity from the TSCHE or universities on the examination.

“If the universities decide to promote all the students based on their average marks of first seven semesters then what is the point of collecting exam fee? When there are no guidelines on resumption of online classes or on exams, how can the universities charge exam fee?” asked Venkat Balmoor, president, National Students Union of India, Telangana unit.

Officials from state universities refused to comment on the subject as the matter is subjudice and said that their response will be submitted in court.