Engg colleges cock a snook at JNTU rules

Hyderabad: Disregarding the directions laid by the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University of Hyderabad (JNTUH) regarding project fee, the private engineering colleges insist on collecting the fee and are refusing to return the original certificates till the fee is paid.

Several students who have completed the courses from the engineering colleges affiliated to JNTU said the college managements have been insisting on payment of project fee and refusing to return their original certificates.

The students alleged that the colleges have been demanding about Rs 5000 to Rs 15000 from each student as project fee. They said though there were no dues to the colleges, the certificates have been denied.

When the students raised the issue with the college staff, the staff insisted that the they pay the project fee. However, the colleges did not issue any notice regarding the payment of project fees but the amount is added on the dues list, the students said.

As per the rule, the fourth year engineering students have to complete a project and submit a report to the respective departments, after which they will be awarded the pass certificate. Taking advantage of this, the colleges are charging anything between Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 depending on the nature of the project. Many colleges did not give any receipt for such payments.

The management explain that the fee is collected since students have been allowed to do the project work in colleges using their equipment. But the students argue that the colleges have no right to collect such fee as per the regulations of the JNTU.

Acting on the complaints of the students on project fee, JNTU issued clear instructions to the colleges against collection of such fee in May this year. It warned them of action if the instructions are ignored. However, the colleges which kept quiet for few months have again started insisting on payment of project fee.