Karnataka consumer court penalises Dharwad-based institute for failing to provide distance education to teachers

The institute failed to start the course despite Bhavikatti’s multiple requests and did not respond to her. It, however, refunded Rs 5,000 to the bank account of the complainant.

Bhavikatti later approached the consumer court and filed a complaint. The KCE did not attend court hearings either despite multiple notices. Finally, in the first week of October, the consumer court directed the institute to refund the remaining Rs 15,000 and fined it Rs 50,000 on account of the mental agony suffered by the petitioner. The KCE was asked to pay an additional Rs 10,000 to Bhavikatti to recover litigation costs.

The same court also ordered the KCE to pay Rs 95,400 to Bhavikatti’s colleague Reena S Rodrigues, 35. It directed Karnataka Correspondence Education to refund the Rs 35,400 it had collected from Rodrigues for admission to the MSc (Distance) in Maths course under Kuvempu University. The institute was also asked to pay Rs 50,000 for causing mental agony to the petitioner and Rs 10,000 towards recovering litigation costs.

When contacted. Sathyaprakash M R, spokesperson of Kuvempu University, said they do not offer distance education courses. “In 2020, the state government brought a legislation and stipulated that only Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in Mysuru can offer distance education courses. Kuvempu University doesn’t offer any distance education courses,” he added.