Gauhati University increases affiliation fees, colleges in a fix

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Many colleges are in a fix over after the Gauhati University has made sharp increase in the fees for renewal of affiliation.

Sources said the Gauhati University has increased the renewal fees for affiliation for its colleges and other institutes by 10 per cent which is allegedly even higher than the fees being charged by the private universities for the same purpose. In 2019-20, the colleges in the State paid Rs 31,460 to the Gauhati University to renew their affiliation. Surprisingly, many colleges including JB Law College in the city are seen paying Rs 1,86, 340 to renew their affiliation in the current financial year (2020-21).

"We are completely at a loss. The Gauhati University authority has not informed us about the rationale behind such huge increase in the fees for renewal of affiliation. The outbreak of Covid-10 and consequent lockdown has already left many colleges to generate zero income by mobilizing their internal resources. Under such circumstances the colleges will not be able to pay such huge amount of fees," a senior college teacher said.

Many colleges have planned to approach the Gauhati University to revise its decision on fees hike to renew affiliation.

When contacted an official in the Academic branch of Gauhati University has refuted the allegation that the fees hike is more than the private universities.

"The affiliation fee was being charged at old rates for a long time. The academic expenditures of the Gauhati University has increased manifold. Thus, there is a necessity to revise the affiliation fees," the official said.

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