JNU claims mess fee hike decision unanimous; stakeholders cry foul

Justifying a 100-per cent hike in mess fee in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Dean of Students Umesh Kadam said today that the revision came after a gap of 15-2o years and that the decision was taken with the assent of all stakeholders.
"It has been passed in the Inter-Hall Administration Meeting. It has gone through all proper procedures. All hostel presidents and JNUSU office-bearers are members of the meeting," Kadam told PTI, adding that the meeting held on January 17 this year lasted for four to five hours.
However, one of presidents of the hostels refuted his claims and said "it is a breach of trust" and no such decision was taken.

"It is a fact that the meeting was held in January and throughout the session, no decision was taken. We were not even issued, till now, minutes of the meeting which is a usual practice," he said, requesting anonymity.
"There were some people who were open to revision considering the rising prices of commodities, but definitely not to such high prices," he added.
Another hostel president also confirmed no such decision was taken in the meeting and said 90 per cent of the members opposed it when it was discussed.

"I have full audio recordings of the meeting. And I can challenge it as a IHA committee member," he said.

Rejecting the claims, JNU Students Association (JNUSU) president Geeta Kumari said, "In the meeting when the fee hike proposals came JNUSU representatives and hostel presidents rejected them unanimously and asked the IHA to establish a financial committee to look in the rationale of hike. However, rather than constituting a committee, the IHA has made the proposal as policy without being passed in the meeting."
JNU Students Union and students belonging to JNU unit of the ABVP today staged a demonstration near Dean of Students Block demanding roll-back of the hike.