Lalit Narayan Mithila University: Students Await Rs. 25 Crore Refund Amid College Fee Dispute

Darbhanga: Student discontent escalates as Rs. 25 crores in enrollment fees remain trapped in college accounts across 41 affiliated colleges under Lalit Narayan Mithila University. These colleges, located in the districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, and Begusarai, have failed to refund the fees collected from female students, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes during the academic years 2016–17 to 2019–20, despite directives from the university.

The colleges have ignored repeated requests from the university administration to reimburse the funds. Consequently, the institution sought a total of 74 crore rupees (Rs. 74,21,41,033) from the government between 2016 and 2020. However, as of March 2023, only Rs. 25 crores were returned to the colleges, leaving students still awaiting their refunds.

Despite clear directives from the university administration prohibiting the collection of fees from specific student groups, college administrations persist in flouting these instructions. While the university has mandated institutions to refund any illegally acquired fees, not a single student has received their reimbursement according to these guidelines.

Moreover, affiliated colleges received payments totaling Rs. 25 crores to cover the reimbursement of their Post Graduate (PG) and University Grants Commission (UGC) registration fees. However, students have yet to receive these refunds. Additionally, fees are not being reimbursed to students transferring between institutions, despite specific instructions from the University Grants Commission.

While college principals have acknowledged receiving the UGC-PG enrollment fee refund, the university administration has yet to address the return of these funds with the students. Upon receiving instructions, further measures must be undertaken to ensure the prompt reimbursement of affected students’ payments.