The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Notice to varsity on plea to return engineering fees

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Notice to varsity on plea to return engineering fees

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JAN. 19. The Madras High Court has ordered notice to Anna University on a writ petition seeking a direction that it return to engineering colleges Rs. 10 crores collected from students during counselling in September 2004.

Justice K.P. Sivasubramaniam ordered notice to the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions, Anna University, on a petition filed by the All-India Medical and Engineering Colleges Association president, T.D. Naidu.

Counselling charges

According to the petitioner, the university collects Rs. 5,300 from each of the students. While Rs. 300 goes towards counselling charges, Rs. 5,000 is meant to be paid to the college, which admits the student. At the time of joining the college a student pays the fee excluding this Rs. 5,000.

"It is the duty of the university to send the tuition fees to the respective colleges immediately after the allotment procedures are over." However, though counselling was completed in September 2004 itself, the university did not forward the amount to the colleges.

Each of them was entitled to Rs. 7-8 lakhs collected by the university, and the total was more than Rs. 10 crores.

When approached, the university said the amount was remitted in fixed deposits under a money multiplier scheme in banks. The colleges were informed that the money would be returned only after the deposits matured. This process would take another six months.

"The interest earned from these deposits is appropriated by the university, which has no jurisdiction to put the amounts due to colleges in fixed deposits" and unlawfully enrich itself, the petitioner said.

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