After 2 years, Panjab University Senate gives nod to 7.5%-10% hike in fee

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 5

On hold for two years owing to the Covid pandemic, the Panjab University Senate today finally approved a hike in fee for self-financed and traditional courses at the university and its affiliated colleges for session 2022-2023.

The Senate approved an increase of 7.5% (maximum Rs 7,500) in the fee structure for partially self-financed courses, while announcing a maximum of Rs 500 hike for traditional courses in the university teaching departments and its regional centres/constituent colleges. The hike will not be applicable to students belonging to SC/ST and EWS category.

It also approved a fee hike in respect of all affiliated colleges of the university. The hike has been approved to a maximum of 10% (up to Rs 1,000), except for students belonging to the SC/ST and EWS category. Further, the examination fee had been hiked up to maximum Rs 1,000 (minimum Rs 200) throughout the session.

Except for a few Senators, no other member of the house opposed the hike. Even those who raised objections requested the Vice Chancellor to lower the hike to 5%. Fellows Simran Dhillon and Ravinder Dhaliwal raised lowering of the fee hike percentage, however, a majority of senators favoured the university’s decision citing no hike in the past two years.

All agenda items passed

The house, meanwhile, passed all agendas items amicably. The agenda for the change in nomenclature from MBA (Executive) to Master of Business Administration (MBA) along with regulation and rules was unanimously approved. The agenda item of issuing roster for the post of associate professors was also unanimously approved.

Another agenda item for restarting BCom course at Panjab University Regional Centre, Kauni, and introduction of new subjects, including music, vocal fine arts, comparative studies of religion in BA course for academic session 2022-23 was also approved.

The BVoc (Software Development), BVoc (Hardware and Networking) and BVoc Multimedia (Graphics and Animations) with at least 50% (be added to the eligibility criteria) for Advanced Diploma in Computer Applications at University School of Open Learning from the academic session 2022-23 was also approved.

The Senate approved the eligibility conditions for MSc Home Science (Clothing & Textiles), MSc Home Science (Human Development), MSc Home Science (Foods & Nutrition), Post-Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics and change in the nomenclature of course BSc Home Science (Human Development and Family Relations) to BS . Home Science (Human Development).

Number of seats decreased

The number of seats in MA Sanskrit course was decreased from 68 to 40. While the house approved it, a heated debate was witnessed. Dr Gurmeet and Davesh Moudgil condemned the agenda. Though Vice Chancellor announced setting up of a committee to assess the situation, the agenda was approved. The fellows said decreasing the number of seats would set a bad precedent for other traditional language courses in the future.

The house also approved the allotment of a dharna site — parking space on the campus — for all stakeholders. This too witnessed a heated debate.

Members stressed the decision had been taken to stop the protesters from closing gates of departments or the administrative block. In another decision, nod was given to the University Institute of Applied Management Sciences and University Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism to independently run PhD course in Applied Management and Sectoral domains from 2022-23.

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