Punjab University facing financial crunch, mulling to hike fees

New Delhi

Punjab University(PU), facing financial crunch following the implementation of 7thpay commission, is mulling to hike its tuition fees in various courses due tothe revision of pay scales.

The university willconduct a discussion at its syndicate meeting in connection with a proposal to increasefee structure, reports India Today.

The move comesafter the Union Finance Ministry said that the university will have to bear 30percent of the fiscal liability owing to the revision of employee’s pay scales.

“If the governmentis saying that the university should pay 30 percent of the fiscal liability andalso generate money to clear its deficit, then PU will be in severe fiscalcrisis and it will be hard to overcome the situation. It is a double harassment.Secondly, the autonomy of the institution should not be punctured, as beingdone by the government and MHRD. The PU is only autonomous by name now, andthere is no free hand in taking decisions,” former president of PunjabUniversity Teachers’ Association Mohammad Khalid was quoted saying.

Highlights

Fees in for diplomacourses will be increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000

There will be 12 to13 percent fees hike in the self-financed courses while 5 to 6 percent intraditional courses.