Kerala’s MG University Syndicate triples sitting fee to ₹3,000, starts row

The new Mahatma Gandhi University Syndicate has tripled its sitting fee, raising it from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000, sparking protests by left-wing workers’ organizations over the timing of the move.

In an order issued on Friday, the recently reconstituted Syndicate appointed by the UDF government increased the meeting fee.

The union justified the increase by “the nature and extent of responsibilities entrusted to members”. She said members devote considerable time and effort to attending Syndicate meetings, examining files and documents, participating in standing committees and making decisions on matters critical to the functioning and development of the university.

She also pointed out that Syndicate members from other universities are paid higher session fees and said the enhancement was justified in view of the responsibilities involved.

The revised fee makes MGU syndicate members the highest paid among their counterparts in the state’s four comprehensive universities. The sitting fee is ₹ 750 at University of Kerala, ₹ 1,250 at University of Calicut and ₹ 600 at Kannur University. Before the MGU hike, Calicut University had the highest sitting fee of the four.

The increase drew sharp criticism from left-wing labor organizations, which questioned the timing of the decision amid the university’s financial woes and administrative backlogs.

“Suggestions to increase the session fee were also raised during the tenure of the LDF-backed Syndicate. However, this increase was not implemented due to the financial crisis of the university. MGU has the highest number of autonomous colleges in its jurisdiction, resulting in a significant drop in examination fee income,” said a former member of the Syndicate.

The Mahatma Gandhi University Employees’ Association (MGUEA), a Left-wing employees’ organisation, claimed that the fee was increased even as several files requiring urgent action by the Syndicate remained pending. These were matters related to the purchase of folders for the distribution of diplomas to students and computers for office operations.

“Although four meetings of the Syndicate have been held in the two months since the new Syndicate took office, several files have not been decided. For example, out of the 236 items on the agenda of the meeting held in August, only 70 have been decided. Several administrative and academic files are not decided,” said Joseph Abraham, president of MGUEA.

The trade union organized a protest march against the walkout on the university campus on Saturday. Hundreds of employees, including women, took part in a march from Pareeksha Bhavan to the administrative block.

The All Kerala Private College Teachers’ Association (AKPCTA), an organization of left-wing teachers, is also planning protests in the coming days.

Published – 26 Sep 2026 19:18 IST