Agitation continues at Presidency despite varsity proposal

Kolkata: A section of students at Presidency University (PU) continued their agitation on Friday, ignoring the appeal of the university authorities to withdraw their agitation.

The university had offered a proposal of slashing the counselling fees for the students, who find it difficult to furnish the same.

However, the students stuck to their demand of reducing it for all students and went on with their sit-in demonstration at the first floor where the room of the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and other senior varsity officials are located.

"We have told them that the excess fee for counselling will not be charged from the students who have financial constraints," said Debajyoti Konar, Registrar of PU.

The university on Thursday had claimed helplessness in reducing the fees and had said that the state Joint Entrance Board has enhanced the counselling fees to Rs 500 from Rs 100.

The agitating students also alleged that the university has been pursuing the admission process without publishing the merit list. They demanded publication of the same as they feel that admission without it may jeopardise transparency associated with the process.

It may be mentioned that 38,000 applicants had appeared for the written test at the varsity. There are 705 seats in the undergraduate level.

The first phase of counselling is scheduled to be held from July 17 to 20, while the second phase will be held on July 22 and 23.