Alleging that the polytechnic college in which he studied a few years ago refused to give transfer certificate by insisting additional fee, a dalit students staged a protest in front of the Collectorate by seeking alms on Thursday.

S. Ashok hailing from a village near Kinathukadavu had got admission at the Hindustan Polytechnic College to pursue Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

He alleged that the college authorities had reportedly assured him that they would not impose any other fee except for books and note books, but refused to give transfer certificate after finishing the course by insisting additional ₹ 29,000 per year.

Since there has been no response in spite of submitting petitions at the Collectorate, he staged the protest, Ashok said.

At present, he is pursuing B.Com and facing first semester examinations in another few days. Fearing that he would not be able to appear for the examination without submitting the TC, he staged the protest. He was removed by the police.

Denying the allegations, the college principal said that they were ready with the TC on June 14, 2016, but the boy refused to accept it. In a statement issued here, the principal charged Ashok with trying to defame the reputation of the institution.

Though Ashok failed to pay the fees, the management allowed him to continue his course, the principal said. In the afternoon, Ashok received his certificates from the college.