SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 13: The B.Ed colleges of Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) Dhanbad would accept fees of Rs 1.20 lakh from students in the 2019-21 academic year, according to the university’s latest statement.
If the court rules in favour of colleges, students will have to pay an additional Rs 30,000 (total cost of Rs 1.50 lakh) to the institution, according to Vice-Chancellor Dr Mukul Narayan Dev’s compromise formula. At the same time, if the court approves the university’s notification, the students will not have to pay the additional amount.
For the time being, the students must provide an affidavit to the college stating that if the court judgement is overturned, they will pay the extra Rs 30,000.
Notably, BBMKU charges Rs 1.50 lakh for B.Ed. On January 18, 2021, the university issued a notification decreasing the total cost of Rs 1.50 lakh by Rs 30,000 for students in the 2019-21 session.
The B. Ed programme is provided in 22 BBMKU colleges, however three private colleges, Alekra B.Ed College, Rajiv Gandhi B.Ed College, and Prajanan B.Ed College, refused to accept the notification and filed a lawsuit in the Jharkhand High Court.
Since then, universities and students have been at odds over the payment issue. Students were protesting because colleges had held up certificates and CLCs demanding payment of extra Rs 30,000.
After meeting separately with the principals of these colleges and student leaders on Thursday, VC Dr Mukul Narayan Dev finally broke the ice.
Dr Dhananjay Kumar Singh, the officiating registrar of BBMKU, said that institutions will henceforth provide certificates and CLCs to students after getting an affirmation that the student will pay the college Rs 30,000 if the court verdict is in its favour.
The college administration was adamant that students deposit the money first (Rs 1.50 lakh). If the court rules in favour of the university, the college will refund the student Rs. 30,000. Principals were concerned that recovering Rs 30,000 from students would be difficult once they graduated from the university.
However, the registrar stated that if the student did not pay following the court order, the institution would hold up his/her NOC.
BBMKU and Ranchi University have the highest B.Ed fees (Rs 1.50 lakh), followed by Vinoba Bhave University Hazaribagh (1.40 lakh) and Kolhan University Chaibasa (1.20 lakh).
Sido Kanhu Murmu University Dumka, charges the least in constituent colleges (Rs 88,000) and the most in private institutions, at Rs 1.35 lakh.
B.Ed fee is highest in BBMKU and Ranchi University (Rs 1.50 lakh) followed by Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) Hazaribagh (1.40 lakh) and Kolhan University, Chaibasa (1.20 lakh). Sido Kanhu Murmu University , Dumka has lowest charges Rs 88,000 in constituent colleges and private colleges charge Rs 1.35 lakh.
BBMKU had Rs 1.20 lakh fee but in 2019 the then vice-chancellor Dr Anjani Kumar Srivastava had increased Rs 30,000 (total Rs 1.50).
“All issues have been solved and no dispute exists between students and B.Ed colleges,” said registrar Dr Dhananjay Kumar Singh.
