Kochi: Over a 100 research scholars from recognised institutions under the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) have been asked to pay nearly ten times the fee they are paying now. This demand came after a majority of the 18 recognized institutions had failed to pay the Rs 3 lakh Annual Recognition fees to the university since 2010-11.
“Out of the 18, only six research centres have been remitting the annual recognition fees. The syndicate said all research scholars of the centres who had registered for their PhD programme at CUSAT should remit the enhanced semester fees of Rs 15,000 (currently Rs 1,500). This fee is to be collected in lieu of the annual recognition fee,” a circular issued by the university said.
The decision has left students dismayed as many don’t even have a fellowship. “Why are we being penalized for no fault of ours? We’re planning to move the High Court,” said Jineesh V.K., a doctoral student at the National Institute of Oceanography.
When contacted, CUSAT Registrar Dr A.Ramachandran said the syndicate had been forced to take the decision after 12 out of the 18 national institutes informed the university that there were no provisions for paying the annual recognition fee or the arrears for the same.