Extra Fee Refund: Uttarakhand Ayurveda Students threaten class boycott

Dehradun: Peeved at the fact that they haven't received the refund of additional fees collected from them, even after the Uttarakhand High court's directive on the same; the students attached to the private Ayurveda medical colleges have threatened to boycott classes.

The students are also agitated at the Ayurveda colleges' alleged demand for extra fees.

It has been alleged by the students that the Uttarakhand Ayurved University is putting pressure on them to pay this year's academic fees as per the previous structure for the Ayurveda course (Rs 2.15 lakh per year), which is also strictly in violation of the High Court order.

In the previous years, the fees for the Ayurveda course at the private medical colleges were increased. However, after the matter went to the court, it had been directed to the state government and the Ayurvedic University that no extra fees will be charged and the extra amount collected over the few years would be refunded back to the students pursuing Ayurveda course from the private medical colleges.

Accordingly, the state government and the Ayurvedic University on November 2 and November 17 respectively released directions to the private colleges to adhere to the court order. However, the private colleges continued to compel the students to pay the extra fees, the students alleged.

"Despite high court order dating July 9, the (college) authorities have refused to refund the extra fees that were charged from the students earlier," the students rued.

Speaking to TOI, a final year student of Himalayiya Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital (HAMCH) informed that earlier the fee was Rs 80,000 per year and it was increased to Rs 2.15 lakh in 2015, without following the fee fixation committee rules.

"We have the documents wherein the Association of Combined Entrance Examination (ACEE) has written to the state government stating that they are not in a position to refund the students. We are now planning to boycott classes and sit on an indefinite strike," the student added.

On the other hand, Ayurveda institutes' authorities are saying otherwise on the refund.

HAMCH Principal A K Jha informed, "Our joint association of private colleges is still contemplating the next legal action. We are neither asking for the fee nor returning any money as the matter is under legal consideration of ACEE."

However, Uttarakhand Ayurvedic University Registrar, Dr R K Adhana, told TOI that they haven't received any letter regarding failure to pay back the students. "If any college doesn't adhere to the orders of the HC and the state government, we will be forced to take away their affiliation."

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