SPPU students suspend mess fee protest after V-C assurance; decision on hike on Sept 26

SPPU students suspend mess fee protest after V-C assurance; decision on hike on Sept 26 If the circular withdrawing the fee hike is not issued on September 26, the thali march planned for 4 p.m.

Key points

• The Management Council session is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m.
• If the circular withdrawing the fee hike is not issued on September 26, the thali march planned for 4 p.m.
• After the assurance, SFI stated it had agreed to temporarily suspend the sit-in at the Vice-Chancellor's request.
• SFI has called on students to assemble at the university's main gate at 4 p.m.
• Students have planned a "thali march" at 4 p.m.

Studentsprotesting a mess fee hike at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) temporarily suspended their four-day sit-in on Thursday (September 24, 2026) after Vice-Chancellor Suresh Gosavi offered a written assurance to a Students' Federation of India (SFI) delegation that the problem would be taken up at the university's Management Council session on September 26.

According to SFI, the assurance came after its delegation held a third round of discussions with the Vice-Chancellor late on Thursday (September 24), the fourth day of the indefinite protest against the fee hike.

SFI remarked Mr. Gosavi assured the delegation in writing that the circular announcing the mess fee hike would be placed before the Management Council for cancellation at its session on Saturday (September 26).

For context, the Management Council session is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m. On September 26. According to SFI, the Vice-Chancellor informed the delegation that a decision on withdrawing the hike would be communicated to the students in writing by 4 p.m.

After the assurance, SFI stated it had agreed to temporarily suspend the sit-in at the Vice-Chancellor's request. The organisation, nevertheless, stated its next course of action would depend on the outcome of Saturday's session (September 24).

Students have planned a "thali march" at 4 p.m. On September 26 from the university's main gate if the circular increasing mess charges are not withdrawn.

"If the circular withdrawing the fee hike is not issued on September 26, the thali march planned for 4 p.m. Will go ahead, " SFI remarked in an official note.

Nevertheless, if the university matters a written circular withdrawing the hike, the organisation noted the proposed march would instead be replaced by a gathering to mark what it described as the success of the students' agitation.

SFI has called on students to assemble at the university's main gate at 4 p.m. On September 26, irrespective of the outcome of the Management Council session.

In practice, the students have been staging an indefinite sit-in on the SPPU campus for the past four days against the growth in mess charges. The protest was suspended after Thursday's written assurance, but SFI stated the agitation could resume if the university does not formally withdraw the hike. Published – September 26, 2026 04: 19 am IST.

Taken together, the developments around SPPU students suspend mess fee protest after V-C assurance; decision on hike point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.