Suspended ILS student calls off hunger strike in Pune

Written By Manasi Saraf-Joshi | Updated:

Siddharth Sharma had alleged that various colleges in the city were charging activity fees to backward class students despite a government resolution.

The suspended second-year student of Indian Law Society (ILS) College, Siddharth Sharma, has withdrawn his week-old hunger strike after the social welfare department assured him that a criminal case would be filed against the college for charging activity fees to backward class students.

Sharma had alleged that various colleges in the city were charging activity fees to backward class students despite a government resolution.

He had resorted to the agitation from March 7 outside the department office in Swargate. Its divisional officer, SB Bhandare, issued the orders and the special district officer would implement it.

Bhandare said, “As per new guidelines issued by the state, the colleges have to adjust other fees in the amount paid by the government to them.” 

The government resolution issued in 2004 says that the colleges should not be charging any fees to the backward class students, failing which criminal action can be taken against them.