PU dept says prospectus is free, but some colleges charging for it

BANGALORE: Here is some good and bad news for students. First, the good news: the Department of Pre-university Edcuation has decreed that colleges should give prospectus free of cost. Now, the bad news: Despite the circular, a few colleges in the city continued charging the students for the prospectus on Monday.
TOI saw students shelling out a hefty sum.A prominent PU college in Basavanagudi is charging Rs 100 for the application form and the prospectus. The college officials told TOI that the prospectus was available for Rs 85.
What you can do
If you find some colleges are not paying heed to the rules, just dash off a letter to the PU department with the copy of a receipt. "The colleges can display a copy of the prospectus on the notice board so that students can access the information. If they have to give it, they need to give it for free. We will ensure strict action against violators. The objective is to ease the financial burden on them. We could not kick off counselling for various reasons this year," said R Basvarajappa, joint director, (exams), at the PU department.
The department, in its circular on admissions for the academic year 2011-2012, had clearly instructed that application forms had to be sold for Rs 21 and prospectus had to be given for free.
Some colleges have decided not to give prospectus to all students at this stage. "We will give the prospectus when the students get admitted," said M R Srinivas, principal, Sheshadripuram main PU college.
"We spent a hefty amount on the printing of the prospectus. We usually give it for Rs 100. Now, if we are asked to give it for free, we will have to bear a loss," said a principal of a popular PU college on Residency Road.
But the students and parents are hoping that at least some colleges will give prospectus free of cost. "The circular has come as a huge relief. The next one week is going to be crazy for us. We have to go to every top college, stand in queue, pay money and get the form and prospectus. Hope colleges will follow the circular and not charge us for the prospectus,'' said Rahul Sharma, who had come to collect an application form from St Joseph's PU College. He plans to apply in at least six colleges.
DATABASE
There are around 3,800 PU colleges in the state, including 1,200 government colleges. No new colleges will be started this year.
ADDRESS OF PU DEPARTMENT
Joint Director (Exam)
18th Cross, Malleswaram
Sampige Road, Bangalore
Ph: 23361856