Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is grappling with a serious financial and administrative challenge following its transition from a manual to an online fee payment system during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The shift has revealed a troubling number of students—particularly in self-finance and NRI categories—who have reportedly not paid their continuation fees, despite being granted degrees and completing their courses.

Sources within the university revealed that this is the first time such an issue has surfaced, as fee payments were previously processed manually. The discrepancy came to light when students, seeking their documents post-graduation, discovered dues still pending under their names.

In some cases, students have already collected degrees despite unpaid fees, triggering concerns about accountability.

To address the crisis, AMU has constituted a four-member committee including the registrar, controller of examinations and admissions, a vice-chancellor’s nominee, and the finance officer to investigate the scope of unpaid dues.

However, despite being tasked with submitting a report within 30 days, the committee’s findings remain undisclosed.

In parallel, the university established a Central Fee Management Cell in September, appointing a professor as adviser to oversee the integration of automated, transparent fee collection processes using digital payment platforms.

The university’s public relations office emphasized that the problem stems from “a mismatch arising during the transition from offline to online fee-processing,” and assured efforts are underway to reconcile the dues.

Nevertheless, internal critics have slammed AMU’s financial management and administrative handling. Professor Mohammad Sajjad of the History Department described the situation as symptomatic of broader institutional mismanagement.

He has appealed to the Education Secretary and the Deputy Accountant General in Uttar Pradesh for an independent audit, expressing concern over the university’s inability to accurately trace unpaid fees among admitted students.

As the investigation continues, AMU faces mounting pressure to restore financial discipline and strengthen transparency, ensuring that such lapses do not undermine the institution’s academic integrity or fiscal health.