School pays for false promises

In an order that will empower parents of students undertaking long journeys to reach school despite assurances by authorities that their wards will be picked up and dropped well in time...

In an order that will empower parents of students undertaking long journeys to reach school despite assurances by authorities that their wards will be picked up and dropped well in time,the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a city-based school to pay for mental harassment caused to parents of a three-year-old student,for delaying his pick-up and drop time by an hour.

Acting on the complaint filed by Sakshi Gupta,a Sector-38 resident,the forum has directed the Rainbow International School,Sector 27,to refund the entire admission fee of Rs 5,200,tuition fee,transportation charges paid after May 2009 and pay a penalty of Rs 5,000 for causing mental agony and harassment and Rs 2,000 as litigation charges. Sakshi said her three-year-old son was picked up at 8.10 am in the morning and dropped at 1.40 pm while school timings were 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. She said she got her child admitted at the Rainbow International School after she was assured by the school management that pick and drop facility will include 20-25 minutes journey in all sectors of the city.

She said at the time of admission,she was told there were a number of buses,so the child will be brought to the school within 20-25 minutes from his house and there would be no difficulty of transportation.

When the school started,however,she realised her child was being picked up at 8.10 am and was dropped at 1.40 pm.

When she raised objections,she was assured by the representative of the school that her child will definitely reach school and be back home within 20-25 minutes,as some adjustments were to be made.

After 15 days,however,the bus stopped coming to her house. When she enquired,she was requested to adjust for some more time. She was told that the school was arranging for another bus.

No new bus was added till July 8,2009 and therefore she asked for refund of the entire fee but to no effect. In its reply,the school stated there was no deficiency in the services,as the school never assured the complainant that the total journey to the school and back will be 20-25 minutes. The Forum,however,observed that had the parent been told about this at the time of the admission,she would not have gotten her child admitted there.

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Therefore there is deficiency in service on the part of the school authorities and the complainant is entitled to the refund of the amount paid by her, the Forum headed by President Lakshman Sharma said in the judgement.

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