In-house students of South Mumbai's Burhani College of Commerce & Arts accuse authorities of step-motherly attitude, say that the college is demanding bribe to give admission
Burhani College of Commerce & Arts has been in troubled waters for some time now. Recently, some teachers of the college had complained to University of Mumbai (MU) officials that the college has been restricting admissions to in-house students in the degree courses.
The activists and students protest inside Burhani College on Saturday. Pic/Sameer Markande
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Now, the students are protesting the college authority's stern decision to withhold admission of all those who have failed to clear the fees by Saturday. “Some of the students had informed the college that they could not pay up the fees at the moment, and will do so by the weekend, but instead of considering our case, the college told us that our admissions stand cancelled.
We are in-house students (passed class XII from same college). Still, the college is treating us as strangers,” said one of the agitating students. On Saturday morning, students visited the college officials along with Vijay Kanojia from the Mumbai Youth Congress and representatives of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) to discuss the matter.
Parents of some students also alleged that the college authorities are also openly demanding bribes for admission under the management quota. However, Haider Karrar, principal of the college, explained, “Some of the students did not pay their fees to confirm their admissions and we have levied a fine on those who have defaulted. Maybe the students are considering this as a bribe. There’s been no extra fee charged otherwise.”
He added that some students who could not pay the fee on time have been given time till Monday to do so. Students, though, alleged that some of them were asked to pay as much as Rs 20,000 and offered a seat under the management quota. Over the past couple of years, staff and students have locked horns with the college authorities and there are rumours doing the rounds that the management is planning to shut down the college.
“Recently, many ad-hoc teachers been handed dismissal letters and many departments have been shut.Karrar, however, stated that the ad-hoc teachers were removed, as the management couldn't afford paying their salaries, especially since the existing teachers were enough to handle the classes.
Students also alleged that the various heads under which college charges fees also amounts to charging of capitation fees, which college authorities vehemently denied. “MU prescribes a basic structure for fees for unaided courses but almost all colleges end up charging a little more than the prescribed amount. This is to ensure that the students get the best education,” said Karrar.
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