Tamil Nadu: Parents to go on hunger strike against Annamalai University fee hike

Chennai: In an attempt to raise opposition towards circulars furnished by Annamalai University, the parents of medicos studying in Rajah Muthaiah Medical College are set to hunger strike on 23 August under the ages of Doctor’s Association for Social Equality until their demands are heard.

“The University need not have modified the circular. We are going to the Supreme Court against the fee hike. Admission this year was through merit and the process was transparent. Yet, when it comes to fees, we are being informed that it is a private institution,” lamented S. Viswanathan, whose son is a student there.

The circulars furnished by the university included rise in its fee structure for which parents have gone against in the court, fighting a legal battle.

A report in The Hindu read that the university has demanded students to pay Rs. 5.45 lakh for medical and 3.40 lakh for dental courses run under its porch.

The University issued another circular On July 11 stating “parents would have to pay a penalty of Rs. 5,000 for every month of delay and after November 8, the university would proceed to remove the names of the defaulting students.”

An interim order of the university last year commanded parents to pay only Rs. 2.5 Lakh.

As the university was undertaken by the state government, the parents appealed in the court that the university should charge government-stipulated fees.

However, the court ruled out the appeal saying that the college had rights to decide its fee structure.

The university further issued a circular on September 30, biding parents to pay the fee on priority stating “students that delay in payment would attract a hefty fine of Rs. 10,000 for those who pay between October 8 and 14; Rs. 25,000 if paid between Oct. 15 and 21; and Rs. 50,000 if the students paid up between Oct. 22 and 28. The names of candidates who fail to pay would be removed on October 29, the circular adds.” The university has also demanded the remaining 3 lakh from students towards last years remaining fee.