The simmering discontent among the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students community against the university administration over the proposed fee hike took form of a massive protest on Monday with students registering their protest in front of Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister on the day of the 'convocation'.

The student community argued that the proposed fee hike is exorbitant and will make hostel unaffordable to a large section of students belonging to poor category.  However, since last 14 years there has been no fee hike and the proposed fee can still said to be nominal, argued administration.

According to notification issued by Inter Hall Administration (IHA) committee of JNU last month, the proposed 'Hostel Manual' stated that room rent for single seater which was Rs 20 per month will be now Rs 300 per month.

"The rent for double seater room was Rs 10 per month and proposed new rent is Rs 300 per month. Whereas service charges of Rs 1700 per month for sanitation, maintenance, cook, mess helper has been introduced. One time mess security, which is refundable, has been increased from Rs 5,500 to Rs 12,000," stated the proposed IHA committee notification.   

Besides this the students will have to return to their respective hostels by 11.30 pm. "Students who visit the library will have to return to their hostels within half an hour of the library closing.

The reading hall on the ground floor of BR Ambedkar Central Library at JNU remained open till 12 am," also states the notification uploaded on the JNU website. Opposing the proposed hostel manual, the students alleged that the JNU authorities have increased the hostel fees by around Rs 2,000.

"A further hike in mess fee and room rent took the increase to Rs 4,000 per student. Students will also need to pay a refundable amount of Rs 12,000 as security deposit, up from Rs 5,500 earlier," said students.

Sambid Verma, a first year student of Master in Philosophy (History), said university has hiked the hostel fee by nearly 300 per cent, which "will affect an overwhelming number of students.  "While we were paying Rs 2,500 a month earlier but now we will have to pay Rs 7,000 per month. We have opposed the new hostel manual but we are compelled to protest because our issues have not been addressed," said Verma adding that there was nearly a 300 per cent hike.