Anna University - the fees collected for revaluation has increased from Rs 2.18 crore in 2011 (April/May) to Rs 4.36 crore in 2015 (April/May).

Chennai: Anna University has collected more than Rs 75 crore from engineering students for re-evaluation of papers since 2011, an RTI application has revealed. In response to an RTI application filed by onlineRTI.com, Anna University said it has collected Rs 28.82 crore for providing photocopies of answer sheets and Rs 46.65 crore for revaluation since 2011.

The reply said the amount collected for providing a photocopy of answer sheets has increased from Rs 68.04 lakh in 2011 (April/May) to Rs 7.59 crore in 2015 (April/May). Similarly, the fees collected for revaluation has increased from Rs 2.18 crore in 2011 (April/May) to Rs 4.36 crore in 2015 (April/May).

Students can get photocopies of their answer sheets for a fee of Rs 300 per subject, and have to pay Rs 400 per subject for revaluation. Students want the university to provide the copy of answer sheets for Rs 2 per page under the provisions of the RTI Act, as other universities in the country charge allow. Under the RTI Act, officials get 30 days to provide the information requested. However, Anna University says students should apply for revaluation within a week of the results being released.

"I have to pay Rs 300 per subject now to get the photocopy of answer sheet. I would get it for Rs 84 (42 pages) under the RTI Act," says a third year engineering student. He says the average student accumulates fails in about five subjects and has to go for revaluation.

Senior faculty of Anna University denied allegations that the university is making money out of revaluation fees. "We will not refund money to applicants even he/she passes after revaluation as we have to pay the examiners. We do not get additional funds from the government and do not collect hefty fees like private colleges."

He said they cannot provide copy of answer sheets under the RTI Act. "We cannot give more than a week for the students to apply for revaluation after the exams and it will affect job opportunities and higher studies. We also don't have enough storage space to keep answer sheets for long."

In 2011, Supreme Court said students could inspect their answer sheets under the RTI Act. In January, the Central Information Commission (CIC) directed the HRD ministry, University Grants Commission and Association of Indian Universities to publicize the order fixing the fee at Rs 2 for a page. The CIC passed the order on January 15 while deciding on an appeal filed by a Delhi University student Abne Ingty who had challenged the cost of Rs 750 per question paper imposed for accessing answer sheets under the RTI Act.

