Engineering college asked to refund fee to student

Amit first filed a case in the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum,Sangrur,and it directed the institute to refund Rs 17,325 to the student,with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum. The institute filed an appeal in the Commission,requesting that that Forum’s order be set aside.

President of the Commission Justice S N Aggarwal and members Lt Col Darshan Singh (retd) and Inderjit Kaushik observed that as per the terms and conditions in the prospectus,Rs 9,885 was not recoverable. However,the prospectus is silent regarding the refund of Rs 17,325. This amount had been charged for the tuition fee,computer development fund and other sundry charges.

Amit informed the court the institute had 40 seats for the course in welding mechanical engineering,and had given admission to 42 students. He stated that in this way,the institute had filled the seat which was vacated by him,and had not suffered any loss on his account. In this light,he was entitled to the refund of Rs 17,325,he said.

The Commission agreed with his contention and directed the institute to refund Rs 17,325 to him,along with costs of Rs 1,500 for the harassment caused to him. The Commission reduced the rate of interest at which this money was to be paid to the student,from 12 per cent to six per cent.