VTU Notices Private Colleges To Return Excess Fees

The VTU (Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) on Friday has issued notices to all the 14 engineering colleges of the state in the aftermath of the circular issues on August 28 by the state higher education department. The Private Professional Colleges, which had collected excess fees from Undergraduate Engineering students who got admission through Common Entrance Test (CET-2012) have been asked for explanation within three days.

The Vice Chancellor of VTU H.Maheshappa said "Following the circular, we issued notices to all the engineering colleges in the state and gave them three days to give an explanation. We have also directed them to pay back the excess fee collected from students or face disaffiliation".

VTU, now has all the rights to withdraw their affiliation and there is no need to wait for approval from the AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) in order to disaffiliate any institution.

Maheshappa said "It is our duty to inform AICTE, just for the process, not to approve admissions next year. But the disaffiliation authority is the university. If any institution fails to respond to the notice, we will directly start the disaffiliation process and no admissions will be made in such colleges from the next academic year".

An official of Higher Education Department said "As on 29th of August, there were complaints against 14 engineering colleges, but a few more colleges who have been added to the list and we will forward the same VTU for further action". Despite of the Government's warning, the colleges did not stop collecting excess fee. This was the evident in the general casual vacancy round.

However, students have filed complaints against colleges collecting more fees than prescribes by the KEA (Karnataka Examination Authority). Well, it is the right of every student to fight for it. Its their right to collect their money which was collected in excess.