“Attendance shortage”- Students of the college allege of charging huge fines.

Mangalore, October 16: Commotion prevailed at Srinivas College campus in Pandeshwar at Mangalore on Wednesday October 15^th since the students of BBM alleged that the college management was collecting heavy fines, for attendance shortage; which was very much than the specified amount by the university.

It is said that, the semester examinations of Mangalore University are scheduled to commence from Thursday October 16^th, but nearly a hundred students who have attendance shortage have not been issued hall tickets yet. As per the university guidelines, the fine for attendance shortage is Rs 900 per subject, but it is alleged that the college administration was collecting Rs 20,000 to Rs 70,000 from each student.

The students alleged that, the college had warned that those who do not pay the above amount would be denied hall tickets.

Some of the students even alleged that when they checked at Mangalore University, their attendance records showed no shortage, but the college was collecting fines insisting that they were lacking in attendance. “The college administration is looting us in the name of attendance shortage,” alleged one of the students.

“Some of the students have already paid the fine and have been given receipts terming the amount as ‘additional class fee’. The principal says that the fee has been calculated as Rs 700 per hour of class taken. But so far, no additional classes have been taken for any subject. The college cannot demand such a big amount as fine for attendance shortage as per university rules, hence it is terming it as ‘additional class fee’,” claimed the students.

It is said that a few of the students had already paid the fine and received their hall tickets, but those who could not afford to pay protested against the college administration on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Dr P S Aithal, principal of Srinivas Institute of Management Studies, clarified that the college had not demanded any fine for allowing students to answer the exams. “Out of concern for students, we conducted additional classes so that they can appear for the exams” he said.

When queried whether the additional classes were approved by university, Dr Aithal stated that, it was the college’s internal matter.

Sources revealed that with no choice left over since the exams are about to begin today-October 16^th, the students have paid the fine and received their hall tickets from the college.