Soon after Bangalore University announced a hike in the fees charged from colleges for affiliation granted to different courses that they conduct, nearly 25 city colleges, including Sheshadripuram First Grade College, Yelahanka, Dayanand Sagar College, Indian Academy, Garden City College, Reva College, Bangalore City College, and East West College have decided to together fight the university’s decision in court.
The hike was announced after many colleges had begun the admission process. Fees had already been collected from many students.
A decision has also been taken to increase the fees paid by foreign nationals enrolled in colleges affiliated to the Bangalore University.
College authorities say that with many foreign students already in colleges and away from their home countries, the decision would be unfair.
The hike for the foreign students is rather substantial — from the earlier Rs8,860 to Rs25,000 for this academic year.
“We are left with no option but to go to court,” said M Prakash, principal, Sheshadripuram First Grade College. Many colleges had completed the admission process, and charging such a vast sum, especially from foreign students, after the process was over would be unfair, he said.
Five students each from the nearly 25 city colleges will also file the affidavit. TB Ningegowda, principal, Dayanand Sagar College, said, “Foreign nationals joining colleges in the city are already here, how can they be expected to pay the excess amount?”
Ningegowda said the colleges had exhausted all the other options to make the university rollback the decision. “We submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor, the education secretary and the state minister for higher education. Nothing has worked,” he said.
