Mysore/Mysuru: Students of Maharani’s College staged a protest on Thursday demanding the authorities to clear the confusion caused due to the increase in admission fees and sought another clear directive from the Department in this connection. Hundreds of students, led by All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), participated in the protest held in front of the Office of Collegiate Education Dept. on Vinoba Road. They also demanded immediate withdrawal of fee hike directive.

“Admissions have already started in Colleges. There is a rule which states that SC/ST students should be given fee-less admission and later the fee amount be deducted in the scholarship amount. But now all of a sudden, admission fees have been hiked and we have been asked to pay them,” they alleged.

“According to the new directive, a student needs to pay an admission of Rs. 16,000 at Maharani’s College, Rs. 30,000 at Maharaja’s College and Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 60,000 at Yuvaraja’s College. It is not right to increase the fees all of a sudden. Fees will be paid after we receive our scholarship and we need to be given time,” they demanded.

“Students have not received scholarship. It is an anti-student directive to ask students to pay admission fee amounting to thousands of rupees. Most of the students who study in Government Colleges are poor and hence this directive should be withdrawn. State Government and University administration should intervene immediately and solve students problem,” the protesters said.

AIDSO office-bearers Subhash, Chandrakala, Nitin, Swati, Chandrika, Chandana, Hema, Sangeeta, Kavya, Anjali and others participated in the protest.