Delhi School of Economics may stop fine after audit demand

The premier institution currently charges fines between Rs 100 and Rs 2,500 on various counts

Cannot attend a convention held in college due to fever or any other reason? Or feel like bunking your college’s annual alumni dinner? If you are studying at Delhi School of Economics, skipping such dos could prove expensive. The premier institution charges fines between Rs 100 and Rs 2,500 on various counts, as set by the college’s disciplinary committee.

Following a demand for an audit into the use of funds, the college has now decided to do away with the practice which has been in place since 2010. Students have alleged that the college collects fine amounting to Rs 1.5 lakh annually while the college says that it collected Rs 40,000 annually. The funds were used for guest lectures and other programmes, according to the college.

“We have been seeking an audit of the funds. Every time, we get different answers and we have written to a lot of people concerned. It seems DSE is adopting Talibani character”, a student of Delhi School of Economic said.

According to the fine norms of the college, students who bunk a convention will have to shell out Rs 2,500 while talking to friends during the event will cost you Rs 250. And if you manage to doze off during any session, you pay a fine of Rs 250 and Rs 1,000 if you enter 15 minutes after an event has started.   

The fines are levied by the commerce and HR department of Delhi School of Economics. “We have decided to discontinue the system following various issues. The funds were collected for a student run body and following some complaints we have decided to withdraw the same”, Prof. Sunaina Kanojia, Coordinator for the HRD program at the university said.

Students have alleged that the funds are collected by unregistered societies and poor students are often victimized. Meanwhile, DSE says that the college has been independently auditing the funds every year and that the scheme is to be discontinued after it was found that students were misusing the fines. “The committees are run by students and they often fine other students on personal grounds”, Kanojia added. The college is yet to officially notify its plan to discontinue the system of fine which was started to bring discipline on campus.   

The university has also decided to slash the charges for hosting functions including guest lectures from Rs 16,500 to Rs 2,000 following concerns of an audit.