Students of CNLU, Patna approach Patna HC with grievance against charging fees for Library, facilities not used amid COVID-19 pandemic

A number of students from the Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna (CNLU) have approached the Patna High Court seeking its intervention for the reduction of fees payable amid the COVID-19 pandemic. .The High Court has granted a weeks' time to serve the Registrar, CNLU. The matter will be next heard on September 28..The petition was filed after receiving no response to the letters written to the Vice-Chancellor on August 10 and the Chancellor on August 25..Aggrieved by the inaction and the opaque retort from the University on the issue, the students have expressed their concern with the fees charged under the heads of ‘Facilities Fee’ and ‘Library Fee’..The ‘Facilities Fee’ amounts to about Rs. 15,000/- for 5th-year students of the batch 2016-2021 and Rs. 16,000/- for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th-year students of the batches of 2019-2024, 2018-2023, 2017-2022 respectively..Additionally, a ‘Library Fee’ to the tune of Rs. 5,000/- is being charged from students of all batches..The petitioners' case is that none of the University facilities has been used in the recent months since CNLU has remained closed from March 15, 2020, onwards on view of the COVID-19 pandemic..Furthermore, it is argued that the existent COVID-19 threat and the current Academic Schedule raise questions as to when the University gates will be reopened. It is noted further that there are clear indications that the University may remain shut for the better part of the Academic year 2020-2021..The petitioners have requested for a pro-rata deduction of the mess charges, annual/ additional room rent and of the facilities fee from the previous payment cycle, since the facilities were not utilised from March 15 onwards. .Further, a postponement of the last date for the payment of the annual fee, which was originally fixed on August 31, has also been prayed for. It is urged that the last date of the payment be pushed to September 30, while citing a BCI Advisory on the issue, dated July 27..It is also urged that the students be allowed to pay reduced academic fees in instalments over a period of 4-6 months..The petition has been filed by Advocates Suyash Rawat, Shubham Bajaj, and Nishit Shah and is being argued by Advocate Sumeet Kumar Singh.