DU hikes late fee on thesis submission, faces criticism

Aksheev Thakur

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New Delhi February 29

Delhi University (DU) has drawn criticism for imposing a late fee of Rs 1,000 per day for thesis submission, with the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) and Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) expressing disapproval.

In a circular, DU’s Controller of Examinations Ajay Kumar Arora announced a revised fee structure that had been approved by the university’s V-C, Yogesh Singh.

The FORDA has accused the university of unfairly extracting significant sums from postgraduate medical residents under the guise of late fee. They claim that the thesis submission fee has tripled, and that the university demanded second-year fee just three months into the course and third-year fee at the beginning of the second year.

The FORDA stated, “Despite assurances, students were coerced into paying exorbitant fee on the last date of thesis submission, suggesting possible corruption and gross mismanagement.”

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) at the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital has also denounced the escalation of fees for MD thesis submission.

“The steep increase in fees for late thesis submission, set at Rs 1,000 per day, not only places a heavy financial burden on resident doctors but also goes against the principles of fairness and equity in academic pursuits. Many of our colleagues are already facing daunting challenges, including heavy workloads, demanding schedules and limited financial means. This sudden imposition of higher fees only adds to these existing difficulties, creating an additional barrier to academic progress,” the RDA added.

Moreover, it’s essential to consider the circumstances surrounding late submissions. Resident doctors often encounter unforeseen circumstances such as emergencies, personal health issues, or family crises, which may hinder their ability to meet deadlines. Imposing punitive measures like exorbitant late fees fails to address the underlying reasons for delayed submissions and unfairly penalises individuals who are already dealing with significant challenges.

The association has called on the DU to reconsider its decision. “As stakeholders in medical education and advocates for the wellbeing of resident doctors, we stress the importance of cultivating an environment within academic institutions that prioritises support, understanding and cooperation,” they emphasised.