Since the admission season kicked off this year, the Fees Regulating Authority (FRA) has already begun addressing grievance cases against nearly 50 state colleges that are charging fees above the approved amount. Most of the colleges offer dental, pharmacy, medical, and ayurvedic courses and are allegedly charging excessively under the guise of uniform, practical book, gymkhana, internal exam, and hostel fees, and even fines for low attendance.

Students have alleged that colleges in Nashik and Parli are engaging in forceful cash collection and are even holding students’ original documents ransom till they pay overhead fees. Many have also allegedly violated norms pertaining to scholarship for girls and are misinforming their students about the provisions that can be made available to them, while another ayurvedic college came under fire for illegally charging students under the Scheduled Caste category over Rs 1 lakh. In Mumbai, dental colleges have come under fire for hiking their fees only after allotting seats.