Students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi protested on Monday over an increase in mess fees, prompting the administration to form a joint committee to resolve the matter.

The protesting students said the mess charge had been raised from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000 every semester. They claimed that IIT Delhi has the highest mess fees of any IIT in the country.

The protesting students said, “They are currently responsible for covering the salaries and pensions of employees of the Board of Hotel Management (BHM)”.

They estimate that the sum for each semester will be between Rs. 11,000 and Rs. 13,000.

According to Article III-A2 of the Student Affairs Council Constitution, BHM is a constituent entity of the SAC.

The institute used to offer a 90% subsidy, but it was later cut to 25% and is currently nothing. Despite receiving money for non-teaching employees, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) strongly encouraged the institute not to pay the mess workers’ salaries because they are not part of IIT-Delhi.

A senior institute official said, “The IIT Delhi administration met with students today to discuss some fee-related issues raised by students. It was decided at the meeting to form a joint committee of representatives from the affected students and the administration”.

The students purportedly stated that IIT Delhi’s dictatorial administration compelled them to pay mess fees before the deadline and threatened them with expulsion from important elections and removal from the dormitory.

Sources said, “The payment deadline for mess dues is extended to 2359 hrs on 30th April 2023. The payment portal will remain open till then”.

The Dean of Students said, “The following conditions are waived in the most current election announcement from ADSE: The contenders and the Electoral College must pay up all outstanding Mess dues in order to participate in the elections”.

According to Student, the college election will be held on the 14th of April, 2023.