Students of IIT Kharagpur have sought a “complete waiver” of hostel mess fees and hostel overhead charges as the institute will hold online classes in the autumn semester.

The students’ senate — the official representative body of the IIT Kharagpur student community — has passed a resolution on Friday demanding a fee waiver and sent a communication to the authorities.

Students have demanded that the mess fees amounting to Rs 10,000 and hostel overhead charge of Rs 600 per semester be “completely waived”. They have demanded a “reduction” in the hall establishment charge of Rs 12,500 and technology students’ gymkhana fees of Rs 600 per semester. They have sought an extension in the July 27 deadline for payment of fees.

On Monday, the dean of students affairs, Somesh Kumar, had written to the students, alerting them about the start of online classes from the end of August and asked students to pay the fees.

The senate approached the institute authorities multiple times wanting to know why students were being charged for services they would not avail themselves of, a senate member said on Saturday. “But no communication has been received. This led to the resolution.”

Dean Kumar said the institute had responded to the senate chairman on Saturday. “We might have to bring some of the students who face connectivity issues to the campus to help them attend online classes. In that case, students have to avail themselves of the mess service and other facilities. The mess service charge has been brought down. At the start of the session, we increase the mess fees. This time, we have decreased it. I believe students will understand the situation.”