Inflation and rising costs of essential commodities have not even spared students.

Freshers taking admission into Chankaya National Law University (CNLU) this academic session must be ready to cough up more money as the institute administration has decided to hike mess charges.

The law cradle, which would commence its new academic session from July 6, has decided to increase its monthly mess charges by Rs 3,000 to Rs 21,000.

Similar is the case with the Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) (see chart), which also has decided on a nominal hike in the mess charge for the students.

The CNLU administration claimed that the rise in prices of edible commodities has forced them to push up the mess charge to foot the difference in expenditure.

The registrar of CNLU, S.P. Singh, said: "In the past few months, prices of all eatables have risen, leaving us with no scope but to jack up the mess charges."

According to officials, the rate of chicken, which was Rs 110 per kg a few months ago, has touched Rs 130 now. So have the prices of edible oil, pulses and spices.

A total of 700 students study at CNLU. With an exception of 10-15 day scholars, the majority of students stay in hostels.

Students availing the mess facilities are provided three meals a day with non-vegetarian dishes, including chicken, eggs and fish, thrice a week.

Senior students, along with the hostel warden, prepare the food menu.

The students expressed their displeasure over the rate hike.

A third year CNLU student, preferring anonymity, said: "The increase in mess charge would surely burden the students, as the tuition and hostel fees at this institution is already steep compared to other government institutions."

Another CNLU student said the yearly tuition and hostel fees at CNLU add up to Rs 1.76 lakh per year and in five years, students have to spend a whopping Rs 8.8 lakh.

CUSB, which has campuses in Patna and Gaya, has also taken a similar decision.

The institute, which till the previous session, charged Rs 2,700 per month as mess charges, has planned to effect an increase of Rs 100.

CUSB official Mohammed Mudassir Alam said: "The hike in mess charges has been done mainly owing to increase in prices of essential edible items."

The new mess charges will be the same for both the CUSB campuses.

"As CUSB has no campus of its own and runs from transit campuses, the varsity hires private caterers to run the mess," said Alam.

Other educational institutions in Patna have, however, not decided whether or not to increase their mess charge.

IIT-Patna charges Rs 80 for a meal, which includes non-vegetarian dishes thrice a week.

NIT-Patna has different mess rates with students paying Rs 1,600 monthly for simple vegetarian dishes. However, if a student desires to eat non-vegetarian, he or she has to pay extra money.

NIT-Patna hostel warden N.S. Maurya said: "Rates are fixed for different eatables such as two pieces of chicken is available for Rs 35, while two pieces of mutton cost Rs 45."