Students Protest Fee Hike at HPTU, ABVP Demands Action
Students protesting
Shimla, April 4: Students at Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU) are expressing strong discontent over the recent hike in re-evaluation, re-inspection, and photocopy fees. The revised fees, which will now cost ₹1000 for re-evaluation of an answer sheet (up from ₹500), ₹500 for re-inspection (up from ₹100), and ₹1500 for obtaining a photocopy of the answer sheet (up from ₹1000), have sparked protests among students, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
In response to this fee hike, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) organized a protest outside the university campus, demanding the reversal of the decision. The ABVP unit submitted a memorandum of demands to Vice Chancellor Prof. Shashi Kumar Dhiman, expressing concern over the financial burden the increased fees would impose on students, particularly those from the poor and general categories.
ABVP leaders have argued that the fee hike is unfair and detrimental to students’ interests, calling for the university administration to reconsider the decision. In addition to the fee-related issues, the ABVP also raised other student concerns, including the construction of additional hostels, expansion of bus services, and the regularization of technical activities on campus to improve the overall student experience.
In response to the protests, Vice Chancellor Prof. Shashi Kumar Dhiman explained that the fee revision was the first in 11 years and was necessary to align with the increasing operational costs. He assured students that their concerns were being heard and said that if feasible, some fees might be reduced. However, the Vice Chancellor also emphasized that the decision to hike fees was made with careful consideration of the university’s financial requirements.
Despite the assurances, the ABVP has warned that if their demands are not addressed, they will intensify their protests, urging the administration to take immediate action to prevent further unrest.
As the situation continues to unfold, students remain firm in their stance against the fee hike, with many calling for greater transparency in the university’s decision-making process and fair treatment for all students, regardless of their financial status.
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