SFI condemns fee hike at HPU, demands rollback of decision

The Himachal Pradesh State Committee of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) on Saturday strongly criticised Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) over its decision to increase examination and course fees from the next academic session, demanding an immediate rollback.

Addressing a press conference, SFI State Secretary Sunny Seakta said the university’s Executive Council had approved the proposal on March 28. The revision included a 50 per cent increase in examination fees and a 10-15 per cent rise in hostel charges.

Seakta stated that the hike would lead to an overall increase of up to 25 per cent in fees for courses such as MA, LLB, LLM, MTTM, MCA, MSc, MTech, FYICTTM and BHM. He added that thesis submission and evaluation fees under PhD programmes would rise by 50 per cent, while extension fees for thesis submission would increase by 33 per cent.

He further pointed out that project report submission fees for courses, including MBA, MCA, MTTM, MTech, FYICTTM and MSc, had been raised by as much as 200 per cent.

Terming the decision a “direct assault on the accessibility and democratic character of public education,” Seakta said the move comes at a time when students and their families are already facing severe financial strain. He argued that such hikes would disproportionately affect students from working-class and marginalised backgrounds, further limiting access to higher education.

Seakta also described the fee revision as part of a broader trend towards the commercialisation of education. “This shift places an increasing financial burden on students and their families while absolving the state of its constitutional responsibility to provide accessible and affordable education,” he said.

The SFI warned that it would launch a mass movement against the university if the decision is not withdrawn.