10 April,2026 10:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
College representatives approach state Higher Education Minister Chandrakant Patil (centre) over varsity fines; the letter is handed over by MLC Dnyaneshwar Mhatre. Pic/By Special Arrangement
With semester examinations and the admission season closing in, representatives of city colleges have written to the state higher education minister questioning steep fines imposed by the university under a January 2026 circular. The circular mandates penalties ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for colleges that fail to register enrolled students on the university portal.
Calling the penalties "unfair, impractical, and detrimental to students", members of the Unaided Colleges Association have sought relief from the higher and technical education minister.
In their letter, they said the university typically keeps the enrolment window open till the last days of September, but last year it was shut by the end of August. "University staff told us the link would reopen soon, but it never did. Now heavy fines are being imposed," alleged college heads.
According to the association, several university departments and autonomous colleges continued admissions till October, leaving nearly 3300 students across 216 colleges unregistered on the university system. These students have also appeared for their first semester exams.
College representatives have demanded that penalties linked to registration be scrapped, institutions and students not be penalised for technical delays, and the university adopt a more cooperative, student-friendly approach with a transparent and timely registration system.
Sharing its justification, the University of Mumbai said some colleges admit students beyond prescribed timelines, leaving them unregistered on the portal and causing delays in exam forms, hall tickets and subject allocation. The fines aim to ensure administrative stability, discipline and safeguard students' interests. The university noted that early admission and academic calendars were declared, while the pre-registration window remained open for months to allow compliance.
Dr Mahesh Bhiwandikar, principal, Achievers College of Commerce and Management, Kalyan
âWe have 18 students who enrolled late due to financial issues or changes in plans. We reached out repeatedly but got no response. Now there is a fine of over Rs 10 lakh on us.
Principal from the western suburbs
âThe portal had glitches, but colleges always comply. Our college faces Rs 10 lakh fine, which is difficult to pay. Many science students switch courses at the last minute, and the burden has fallen on colleges.
Principal of an autonomous South Mumbai college
âWe have 20-40 students yet to be enrolled. Despite multiple communications, we received no satisfactory reply. Some students enrolled before the deadline but couldn't upload details due to technical issues. Now we face penalties.
