Distance education students of Bharathiar University have alleged that they were fined ₹300 each for non-payment of the third semester examination fee despite paying it within the prescribed deadline, claiming a technical error in the university's online portal caused the issue.
Coimbatore: Students pursuing postgraduate programmes through the Directorate of Distance Education at Bharathiar University have alleged that they were unfairly penalised despite paying their third semester examination fees within the stipulated deadline.
According to the students, courses that are scheduled to be completed in two years have faced significant delays due to the alleged failure to conduct regular classes and semester examinations. They claimed that only two semester examinations have been conducted so far, although the programme duration has already exceeded two years.
The students said the University had directed them to pay the third semester examination fee on or before June 25. They claimed to have paid the fee through the University's online portal within the deadline.
However, they alleged that due to a technical error, the payment was reflected against the fourth semester instead of the third semester. As a result, the University reportedly treated the students as having failed to pay the third semester examination fee and imposed a penalty of ₹300 on each student.
The students further alleged that the University has not announced when classes for the remaining semesters will commence or when study materials will be distributed. They also expressed concern over whether the third and fourth semester examinations would be completed within the current academic year.
Urging immediate intervention, the students appealed to the Higher Education Department to look into the issue, withdraw the penalty, and ensure that the academic schedule is streamlined without causing further hardship to distance education learners.
According to the students, courses that are scheduled to be completed in two years have faced significant delays due to the alleged failure to conduct regular classes and semester examinations. They claimed that only two semester examinations have been conducted so far, although the programme duration has already exceeded two years.
The students said the University had directed them to pay the third semester examination fee on or before June 25. They claimed to have paid the fee through the University's online portal within the deadline.
However, they alleged that due to a technical error, the payment was reflected against the fourth semester instead of the third semester. As a result, the University reportedly treated the students as having failed to pay the third semester examination fee and imposed a penalty of ₹300 on each student.
The students further alleged that the University has not announced when classes for the remaining semesters will commence or when study materials will be distributed. They also expressed concern over whether the third and fourth semester examinations would be completed within the current academic year.
Urging immediate intervention, the students appealed to the Higher Education Department to look into the issue, withdraw the penalty, and ensure that the academic schedule is streamlined without causing further hardship to distance education learners.