Student Admitted Midway to get Full Fee Refund
Kolkata-based Indian Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM)
has been ordered by the country’s apex consumer forum to
refund the entire fee to its student who was admitted
over six months after the course began. Dismissing IIHMs contention
that fee once paid is not liable to be refunded, National Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commission (NCDRC) directed IIHM to refund the entire Rs. 45,460 to student Reshmi
Dutta after deducting a nominal Rs. 1,000 as administrative charges. As per UGC
guidelines, the entire fee after a deduction of the processing fee of not more than
Rs. 1,000 shall be returned by the institute to the student, NCDRC Member S. K.
Naik said, endorsing a West Bengal state consumer commission order.
It can only be said that these types of one-sided conditions have been overruled
by a number of fora, including the University Grants Commission
and the Ministry of Human Resources Development,
the NCDRC held dismissing IIHMs plea.
Reshmi had taken admission in the institute on December 5, 2008 after seeing an advertisement
for admission in a regional daily on November 23, 2008. Three days later, she, however,
realized that the course had started in May 2008 and the examination for second
semester was to begin in the next two months.
When contacted, the college authorities advised her to attend the classes, saying
she would be able to cover the syllabus and her attendance shortfall would be waived.
Finding it difficult to cover up the syllabus at the stage when the practical examinations
had already been held, Reshmi requested the institute to consider her candidature
for the next session beginning May 2009.
However, when the institute did not approve her request Reshmi demanded her fee
back. The IIHM, in its appeal before the NCDRC, contended that the advertisement
was not for inviting admission applications but aimed at providing general information
with regard to the status of the institute.
The NCDRC rejected this saying, If the intention was not to invite students for
admission, there was no need for the institute to have indicated the procedure.
The institute itself had accepted the fee and admitted the student mid-way.
Courtesy: Times of India
