COLLEGE’S VERSION OF PAY-AND-PARK!
Students of a city college protest against denial of parking space inside the premises
M K ASHOKA
Students of New Horizon College in Kaadubisanahalli near Marathalli Ring Road raised the banner of protest over their parking rights on Thursday. The target of their ire is the management stipulation of Rs 6,000 per car and Rs 4,000 per two-wheeler for allowing vehicles to be parked inside the premises.
Following the students’ protest, the management said it would take a decision in the matter on Saturday.
The anger of the students spilled over when the traffic police slapped fines on Thursday on all those who had parked their bikes outside. The incident came as an unpleasant surprise to the students, who have beenparking their two-wheelers there since the past two years without any problems.
According to the protesters, only a few rich students had paid the amount stipulated by the management and were parking their vehicles inside. They alleged that the management, with the intention of collecting money through parking fees, had told the HAL traffic police to take action against those who had parked their vehicles outside.
“Classes started at around 9.15 am. At 9 am, the traffic cops came and stuck Rs 100 penalty bills on all the vehicles parked outside. The students took the matter to the management, but it responded by suspending four of our representatives,” they said.
More than 100 students gathered in front of the college demanding parking space inside the premises. Meanwhile, college officials closed the doors of the classrooms to prevent others joining the protesters.
According to one student, there is enough parking space inside the college premises for around 800 vehicles.
The management later agreed to revoke the suspensions and said they would take a decision on the parking issue on Saturday or Monday. “If they do not take a decision, we will stage a protest again,” some students said.
The college authorities have come out with outrageous amounts as fee for parking vehicles, students said.
The students now have to shell out Rs 2,000 for a 100 cc bike, Rs 4,000 for geared bikes and cars Rs 6,000.
Earlier, the parking space for students was outside the college gate, but on Thursday morning the management reportedly insisted that no student will be allowed to park outside.
The management said the students now have a parking area behind the campus.
"Initially, policemen assured us that the management cannot impose such rules on students. After a meeting with the management, the police insisted that the parking area outside the gate will be a made into a `no parking' zone," a student said.
"Any vehicle parked there will be towed away. The management is paying no heed to the students or parents gathered to discuss the issue," the student added.
The college issued a circular a week ago informing students of the new rules.
But the students never expected them to charge such hefty sums.
"They recently hiked the academic fee from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per year stating that it includes all college facilities. Why not parking?" the students asked.
When contacted, the college administration said there was no one from the management to comment on the issue. Senior police officers expressed helplessness saying that as the parking fee was charged in a private institute they could not intervene.
"Similar problems of parking were reported from a school run on 100 Feet Road, Indirangar. Parents and students need to check all these parameters before taking admissions," said a senior traffic officer.
Take out a ‘we-are-sorry rally’
Now, management of New Horizon College wants students to rally inside the campus and shout slogans praising the college, to make amends for their earlier protest demanding parking space
M K ASHOKA
They protested against the exorbitant parking fees charged by the college management. Now, the management wants the protesters to shout slogans praising the management. Second year BBM students of New Horizon College, located on Marathalli Outer Ring road, are facing this dilemma. They have been told to take out a rally in the college premises on Saturday and say sorry.
On Sept 3, students protested against the management for stipulating a huge sum as parking fee inside the premises. Soon after the protest, the college, suspecting four BBM students of taking the initiative to protest, stopped taking classes to II year BBM students. When the students questioned this, teachers said ‘even they have the right to protest.’ Now, the students have been told that if they want classes, they need to take out a rally and glorify the management, shouting “Up up Horizon College” and “We are sorry.”
BLACK PROTEST
A student said, “Two sections have agreed to take part in the rally, but one section is backing out. Those who take part will wear black T-shirts opposing the Hitler-style dictatorship of the management.”
Students said for the last one week, teachers have been coming to class only to take attendance and sit idle. When students ask them the reason why they don’t take classes, some teachers frankly respond, saying they have been instructed by the management to do so, while a few step out after locking the door from the outside.
There are 230 students in the third semester of BBM. Four students have been kept under suspension for taking the initiative and talking about the parking problem with the management. The college authorities have reserved their decision till Monday following two huge protests.
Meanwhile, the college authorities have sent back the representatives of Akhila Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) who had come to enrol students in the organisation. Principal Sainath did not respond to calls from this newspaper since Thursday.
in the news for charging exorbitant parking fee, the college has begun to fine students who wear sandals or floaters.
The management feels shoes give a ‘touch of professionalism’, while sandals make students look ‘unprofessional’.
The rule applies only to boys in various disciplines, including engineering and management. Those found wearing sandals are caught and fined Rs 100 ‘on the spot’. Earlier, the rule was mandatory for both girls and boys. Now, girls have been exempted.
Meanwhile, a parent has written a letter to Bangalore Mirror highlighting the college’s ‘fine’ decisions. The letter runs thus.
“My ward has been studying in the college for the past couple of years. I’ve seen her suffer inwardly. I feel helpless because my daughter does not allow me to talk to the management because it might trouble her. For the past one week, the parking fees has become a serious issue between the college management and students. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
“If a student is found without an ID card in the campus, he has to pay Rs 100 as fine. If found with a cellphone (whether it is being used or not), one has to pay Rs 500,” he has said.
He said the semester and exam fees for colleges coming under the VTU is Rs 550, but students are made to pay Rs 600. According to the CET, one has to pay an annual fees of Rs 28,090 for the BE course. “In addition, an extra ‘college fees’ of Rs 15,000 has to be paid here.
And no receipt is issued.When I contacted the management, they said it’s a management policy not to issue receipts,” the parent has charged.
The college fees, which was Rs 12,000 till last year, was increased by Rs 3,000 this year. “When some students wrote to the management asking it to reduce it, few students who wrote the letter were booked under ‘drug peddling’ by the management,” he said.
“If these charges seem false or exaggerated, visit Orkut or Facebook and you will know the truth,” he has said.
Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact the principal has gone in vain.
Bengaluru
Sept. 3: Students of the New Horizon College of Engineering protested outside the gate of the college Thursday morning after the institution authorities allegedly refused to allow them inside without payment of the new parking fee for vehicles.
The college authorities have come out with outrageous amounts as fee for parking vehicles, students said.
The students now have to shell out Rs 2,000 for a
100 cc bike, Rs 4,000 for geared bikes and cars Rs 6,000.
Earlier, the parking space for students was outside the college gate, but on Thursday morning the management reportedly insisted that no student will be allowed to park outside.
The management said the students now have a parking area behind the campus.
“Initially, policemen assured us that the management cannot impose such rules on students. After a meeting with the management, the police insisted that the parking area outside the gate will be a made into a ‘no parking’ zone,” a student said.
“Any vehicle parked there will be towed away. The management is paying no heed to the students or parents gathered to discuss the issue,” the student added.
The college issued a circular a week ago informing students of the new rules. But the students never expected them to charge such hefty sums.
“They recently hiked the academic fee from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per year stating that it includes all college facilities. Why not parking?” the students asked.
When contacted, the college administration said there was no one from the management to comment on the issue. Senior police officers expressed helplessness saying that as the parking fee was charged in a private institute they could not intervene.
“Similar problems of parking were reported from a school run on 100 Feet Road, Indirangar. Parents and students need to check all these parameters before taking admissions,” said a senior traffic officer.
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