The counselling process for government colleges in Ludhiana concluded on June 21, but hundreds of selected students remain unable to deposit their fees due to a persistent malfunction in the official portal. As per university rules, fees must be paid within three to four hours of seat allotment, yet three days have passed since the final counselling round, and the portal remains inaccessible.
Students and Parents Express Frustration
With the last date for fee submission fixed as July 21, the delay has sparked anxiety among students and parents. A worried parent outside SCD Government College said, “It is about the students’ future. The authorities must act swiftly.” A student echoed the sentiment: “We are left in the lurch, standing at the crossroads. Should I take admission in a private college or not? I am confused.”
Alumni Associations Criticize Higher Education Department
Alumni groups have sharply criticized the situation. Brij Bhushan Goyal, organising secretary of the alumni association at SCD Government College, remarked, “The state’s Higher Education Department must not keep students and parents on tenterhooks. Their portal is yet not open, and this is really very frustrating.”
Official Response and Temporary Solutions
Assistant Director of Higher Education Rajesh Kumar admitted that technical glitches had stalled the process. “A meeting was held today. The issue will be resolved by evening and instructions will be sent to colleges,” he assured. Meanwhile, private colleges have stepped in to accept fee manually at their counters, offering a temporary alternative. “As a security measure, my friend deposited fee at a private college,” said another student, highlighting the growing uncertainty among aspirants.
Parents Face Agonizing Choices
The delay has created a precarious situation. While government colleges await a fix, private institutions are quietly securing admissions. “The choice is agonizing, whether to wait for the portal to reopen or to safeguard our child’s future by opting for private colleges at higher cost,” said Tejinder Singh, another parent.
