The joint director of higher education has issued a showcause notice to Jai Hind College demanding to know why criminal action should not be initiated against the principal of the college for collecting fees over and above the permissible amount towards Wi-Fi facilities and e-connectivity last year. Surprisingly, the University of Mumbai, which had issued orders to the college to refund the fees last year recalled the order prompting activists pursuing the issue to allege that the university is working against the interests of the students and shielding the college.
According to an official from the office of the joint director, the college and the principal Dr Ashok Wadia have been guilty of collecting fees in excess of the permissible fees stipulated by the MU and hence guilty of action under the Prohibition of Capitation Fee Act 1987.
Last year while admitting students to the degree college section, the college had collected Rs 1,000 from each student towards Wi-Fi facilities and e-connectivity that would aid in learning and downloading study material. The college had issued receipts for the same but had not included it in the main fee receipt. On receiving complaints about the same from a certain section of students the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) took up the issue with the MU. The university ordered the college to refund the fees as it was not allowed in September, 2015 however a month later the order was cancelled.
Speaking about the issue, Santosh Gangurde, vice president of the MU wing of MNVS, said, “It is surprising that the university is allowing the college to exploit the students. The fact that it issued a refund order to the college and cancelled it a month later proves that there is some nexus between the university authorities and the college as the interests of the students were not taken into consideration,” said Mr Gangurde.
He added that due to the about turn by the university, MNVS approached the joint directors office for justice for the students. “We met Dr Sahilendra Deolankar and apprised him of the issue which pointed out that by collecting additional fees the college was actionable under the clauses of the Capitation Fee Act. He then issued the showcause notice on July 13,” said Mr Gangurde. The order confirms that the show cause notice has been issued at the behest of MNVS.
While, Dr Wadia was unavailable for comment, in a previous interaction with The Asian Age he had said that the Rs 1,000 was optional and students had not been forced to shell out the amount. He had added that the initiative was aimed at benefiting the students and aiding them in e-learning and completing projects.
The notice has asked the college to respond as soon as possible.
