Lucknow University Campus Sealed in Protest Over 900% Late Fee Hike
Tension gripped the second campus of Lucknow University on Wednesday as a significant group of students staged a forceful protest, demanding the immediate withdrawal of a substantial late fee increase for undergraduate courses. The students were specifically objecting to the fee being raised from a modest Rs 200 to a hefty Rs 2,000, representing a staggering 900 percent hike.
Campus Lockdown Disrupts Academic and Administrative Functions
In a dramatic escalation of their demonstration, the protesting students reportedly locked all gates of the university campus, effectively sealing off the premises. This action caused a severe disruption to regular academic activities and administrative work, bringing normal university operations to a standstill.
The protest took a violent turn when Additional Proctor Mohmmad Ahmad attempted to intervene. According to Ahmad, the situation intensified near the main entrance amidst the commotion. "My hand got stuck in the main gate while trying to open it to allow entry for people waiting outside," he explained, confirming he sustained minor injuries from the incident.
Student Voices: Decrying "Exorbitant" and "Unfair" Fee Policy
The students, primarily from the law faculty, voiced their grievances loudly, raising anti-university slogans throughout the protest. Prashant Pandit, a second-year law student, articulated the core complaint: "The late fee charged by the university is exorbitant. At LU, students from all sections come for higher studies. Hiking the late fee from Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 is profoundly unfair."
His sentiment was strongly echoed by fellow law student Harshit Shukla, who provided details of the protest's progression. "We initially sat on a peaceful dharna inside the gate," Shukla stated. "The incident took an ugly and unfortunate turn only when the additional proctor tried to forcibly open the main gate."
University Official Condemns Protest as Breach of Discipline
Additional Proctor Mohmmad Ahmad condemned the students' actions, emphasizing the disciplinary breach. "The locking of gates unlawfully obstructed all administrative work, and this protest constituted a serious breach of university discipline," Ahmad asserted. He further noted, "While expressing grievances is acceptable, the method chosen here was disruptive. The protest could have and should have remained peaceful."
The protest highlights growing student discontent over fee structures at public universities, with the situation at Lucknow University remaining tense following the day's events that blended peaceful demonstration with moments of physical confrontation and institutional disruption.
