Presidency University students call off agitation

Presidency University students today withdrew their sit-in at the campus after the authorities said that couselling fees to courses in BA and BSc streams will not be charged from those hailing from economically weak background.

Registrar Debojyoti Konar, the three Deans - Dean of Students, Dean of Science, Dean of Arts - Controller of Examinations left their offices at 9:30 pm, after being confined for over two days, a Presidency University official said.

"We have promised that counselling fee will not be taken from students of BPL families. We will now formally place the proposal in a letter to the University's Governing Body where the views of students will also be incorporated," Konar told reporters after the sit-in was lifted.

The students' demonstration began on July 12.

Ayan Chakraborty, a spokesman of Independent Consolidation (IC), one of the two student unions spearheading the agitation, said "The agitating students, under the banner of IC and SFI, unanimously decided to call off our agitation after discussion with the authorities.

"The Presidency authorities assured us that those families having less than Rs 1.2 lakh annual income will be freed from paying any counselling fee. As stakeholders, the view of student unions will be included in the letter to be given to the GB (Governing Body). But our fight will continue to ensure students' rights are not infringed on," Chakraborty said.

Konar earlier pointed out that as the counselling process was being conducted by West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board (WBJEE) the counselling fee hike from Rs 100 to Rs 500, which triggered the sit-in by the students, was the decision of WBJEE and Presidency had nothing to do in it.

"Considering the demand of the students, we talked to the WBJEE and it was decided not to accept the counselling fee of those living under Below Poverty Line (BPL)," the Registrar said.

The counselling and admission process are conducted on the basis of merit list and candidates appear for counselling round as per the date and time mentioned for them as per their ranking.

The merit list was published by the university today, which was cited as another victory by the agitating students who were demanding transparency in the admission process.

The university conducts Presidency University Bachelor Degree Entrance Test 2018 which is an under-graduate course and the counselling is done by WBJEE.

The first round of counselling and provisional admission dates have been fixed from July 17 to 20. The second round of counselling is slotted from August 22-23.