Jammu University students end 9-day protest after partial relief

The University of Jammu has agreed to a series of concessions on student fees, following nine days of protests led by law students demanding a rollback of the fee structure announced for the academic year 2026-27.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) called off its agitation on June 25 after negotiations with the University administration.

All students admitted in 2026-27 will receive a one-time financial assistance of ₹500. Students in their third, fifth, seventh and ninth semesters will continue to pay fees at the existing rate without any increase. The 2026-27 batch will also be permitted to pay their fees in two equal instalments. Scholarships and financial assistance for economically weaker students are to be enhanced.

Crucially, the University has also assured students that the proposed fee hike will not be applied to the 2027-28 batch.

Students had demanded the reversal of a University Council provision that permits annual fee increases of up to ten percent, which they say Jammu University has applied every year. On this, the University has committed to taking the matter up with the government.

ABVP State Secretary Sannak Shrivast said approximately 2,400 newly admitted students would benefit directly, with a cumulative financial relief of around ₹12 lakh.

The protest had its origins in a fee dispute dating back to 2025, when the Law Department issued a notice placing fees for the three-year LL.B. programme at approximately ₹17,000. After student objections, the amount was reduced and students were assured there would be no further hike. When the 2026-27 session began, new admissions to the three-year LL.B. programme were charged approximately ₹20,000 and those in the five-year BA-LL.B. programme approximately ₹50,000.

Students also questioned the basis of several specific fee components, including a Green Cess of ₹130 levied despite vehicles being banned on campus, and a Digitalization and Networking Fund of ₹260 collected despite basic university records remaining handwritten.