TISS students contest the compulsory fee policy imposed for semester registration

MUMBAI: A section of students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has opposed the institute’s move to make fee payment mandatory at the time of registration. The institute, in a notice, also asked students to clear all previous dues to proceed with semester registration. In fact, it stated that the registration option will be available only after the payment of fees or dues and that students will not be allowed to attend classes if they fail to register.The institute administration, however, claimed that many students graduate without paying the fees, prompting the institute to revise the norms.

In a notice to the students, the institute mentioned that ‘payment of fees and semester registration is mandatory for all students joining the upcoming semester. Without completing semester registration, students will not be allowed to continue on the roll of the program.’ The rule exempts students from SC/ST who receive government scholarships from paying the fees.

An official said that many students do not pay the fees even after joining the semester, and they also graduate and leave the campus. This has been happening for some time, and the pending dues from the fees of students run into crores, added the official. Another official said that most institutions, including government ones, require students to pay fees at the time of registration.