Srinagar: Students of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) held a protest on Thursday, demanding fair fee structure and improved facilities. The students threatened to boycott their classes if demands were not met.
The protesting students, as reported by news agency KNO, said that the university was charging exorbitant semester and admission fees without improving facilities.
“Our seniors would pay 30 to 40 percent less fees than what we are being charged. The hike in fees would have been justified if there has been improvement in the facilities, but that has not been done so far,” they said.
They claimed that the fee charged by the CUK was “significantly” higher compared to other universities established under the Central University Act 2009.
They also criticised the university’s financial policies, stating that they were being charged for non-existent facilities.
They pointed out the absence of accommodation options, such as hostels, while the university continues to collect fees for these amenities.
A non-local student said, “I am from Lucknow, UP, and I came with high expectations. Unfortunately, there are no good facilities, not even in the hostel. And the fee is very high as compared to other central universities.”
Another student said, “We came all the way from Kerala to study here. But everybody is trying to loot us. We have no security here in terms of accommodation and they are charging us for things that are non-existent.”
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Prof A Ravinder Nath urged the students to not boycott classes and assured them their grievances would be taken seriously and resolved promptly.
“We will resolve the issue within a week. Students can form a committee that will communicate with us to deliberate on the issues they are facing here,” he said.
