While the committee members and PU Vice-Chancellor R C Sobti deny that such a fee would bar students belonging to the financially weaker sections from availing of the facility, the only logic provided by them is that the exhorbitant amount would mean that only genuine candidates would approach them. The Vice-Chancellor said: “I fully agree with and stand by the decision of the committee. With Rs 10,000 as the fee, only those who are actually having a problem will approach us.”

The committee members, meanwhile, have failed to explain why such a high amount has been proposed. Denying that the proposed fee will be out of reach of students from middle income group and those belonging to the financially weaker section, a committee member said: “Anyone desperate to know about his/her performance would arrange for the money.”

There is no provision to pay the fee in instalments, a move which is explained by the committee members a result of discussions and suggestions. The proposal, meanwhile, would be implemented only after it is approved by the Syndicate meeting scheduled on January 25.