Students of prestigious colleges of Delhi University like Stephen’s, Lady Sri Ram (LSR), Miranda House, Hansraj, Hindu, Daulat Ram and several others today started relay hunger strike against the huge fee hike in the university and its colleges. Over 50 students of different colleges and faculties are participating in the 48-hour relay hunger strike. These students are demanding the university administration to withdraw the notification regarding the fee hike issued last month.
“There should be some justification about the hike”, says Harshita of Lady Sri Ram College. The University administration has increased the fee from 250% to 400% on many items, she says. The fee for revaluation of the paper has increased from rupees 200 per paper to 500. The researchers will have to submit Rs. 5000/- while the exiting charge is Rs. 2000/- says Rohit , a History (M.Phil) student.
“Now I have to pay rupees 48000/- per annum to stay in the hostel of Hansraj College while the existing rate is rupees 36000/-“, Ankit a PG student of History at Hansraj College, told http://fachcha.com . Rates of almost all examination related fee have been increased from 200% to 400% and it is unbearable for most of the students he adds.
Delhi University had issued a notification on 19th September 2009 regarding the fee hike for the examination. While the protesting students are demanding to withdraw the notification they also demand to make fees in the colleges reasonable as most of the colleges too have increased their fees under different items. These issues too need to be addressed, the students say, who are protesting under the banner of student outfit AISA.

On the other hand the university administration is non-committal on the issue. Gurmeet Singh, Proctor of Delhi University today met a delegation of agitating students but did not give any assurance. He said that the university administration would discuss the issue after the strike was over.