DU college fines students for low attendance, authorities call it 'security deposit'

Students of DU's Aryabhatta College on Wednesday held a protest at their campus in Delhi against a Rs 2,000 fine which they claimed was being charged for short attendance even though the authorities said that the amount was meant as a security deposit.

According to Delhi University rules, a student must have a minimum of 66.53% attendance to be eligible for appearing in semester examinations. In case of failure to meet the requirement, a student has to submit an undertaking that the shortfall would be covered in the next term.

However, as per the varsity's norms, no fine can be levied on students for short attendance. Around 150 students of the college are on the attendance defaulters' list and these students have not been issued admit cards for the semester exams which begin tomorrow.

"The college is charging us a fine of Rs 2,000 for short attendance and has said we will not be issued admit cards without paying the penalty," said a student. College authorities, however, explained that the amount was not being charged as a fine but was a "security deposit" which would be later refunded.

"It is unacceptable that students fail to comply with the varsity's attendance rules and, hence, the staff council yesterday decided that the students need to submit an undertaking and make a security deposit of Rs 2,000 which will be refunded once they make up for the attendance shortfall," said the college principal, Manoj Sinha.

Asked whether collecting the security deposit was in accordance with DU norms, Sinha said "it was an internal arrangement which we have made only to ensure that students attend classes in the future and make the best of their college years to gain knowledge and acquire skills".

A move by DU's Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College to bring in a Rs 2,500 penalty for short attendance was last month greeted with protests by its students, leading to the withdrawal of the decision.
Sinha, however, said there was no plan to withdraw the decision taken by his college. "Around 50 students have already paid the security deposit and submitted the undertaking; they have been issued admit cards. Others need to do the same. Rules are the same for everyone," he said. 

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