Students of the Utkal University here on Monday gheraoed the Registrar and Vice-Chancellor’s offices protesting the more-than-three-fold hike in hostel fee. Following this, the Post Graduate Council immediately postponed the decision.
The PG Council had decided to hike the fees of first year PG students from Rs 2,800 to Rs 7,200 and of second year students from Rs 3,200 to Rs 7,700, while the M Phil and PhD students would have to pay Rs 20,000 and Rs 20,400 this year in the place of last years’ Rs 7,000 and Rs 7,200, respectively.
The students alleged that the Registrar misbehaved with them when they demanded rollback of the decision. On the other hand, Registrar Banani Mohanty rubbished the allegation terming it as baseless and said the decision was taken after a thorough discussion at a PG Council meeting. She also said the Syndicate would take a final decision in the matter.
“We had decided the fee hike at a high-level meeting of the PG Council in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor. We have postponed the decision now,” said PG Council chairman PK Mishra.