The Tamil Nadu Agriculture University has silently increased the re-examination fee five fold, much to the shock of candidates.

As many as 35 institutions, including 14 constituent and 21 affiliated colleges are functioning under TNAU, which offers 13 courses such as agriculture, horticulture and forestry and about 11,200 students are studying.

Every year, the university conducts re-examination for students who have failed in the subjects. Until last year, it collected only Rs 200 as re-examination fee from candidates. But this year, the fee has seen a five-fold rise, complain candidates.

On November 20, Mr.Ilamurugu, the TNAU Controller of Examinations, issued a circular stating that students who have failed in one or more subjects in the under graduation programme should apply online to appear for re-examination before December 4 and those applications received after the deadline would stand rejected.

Written and practical exams would be held for 60 and 100 marks, the circular said, adding that those who appear for the first time would have to pay Rs 1000 and for the second and third time should pay Rs 2000 and Rs 3000 respectively, as per the decision taken in the 133rd Academic Council meeting.

This sudden move by the TNAU has come as a shock to the candidates who termed it as looting by the university. “Is this a private or a TN government-run university?” a student asked. They said that they came to know about the fee hike only before two days and asked how it was possible for those coming from poor economic background to pay such a huge amount as examination fee before the due date fixed as January 4, 2018.

Seeking the immediate intervention of the state government, they demanded that the TNAU revert to old fee pattern.

Earlier in the day, they staged a dharna on the university campus and on assurance from the authorities that they need not pay the increased fee, they dropped their protest.