Non-refund of fees: Students approach DTE against two engineering colleges

“My daughter had taken admission for mechanical engineering at P E Society’s Modern College of Engineering for the current academic year on June 29. However,soon after she secured a seat for a medical course. When we approached the college authorities for cancellation of admission and return of original documents to claim the medical seat on August 5,they asked us to wait till August 19. But,by then the last date for refund of fee as per the rules had lapsed. Moreover,we were asked to give an undertaking with regard to forfeiting the admission fee,” said an aggrieved father on condition of anonymity.

The other complaint lodged with DTE is against JSPM Narhe Technical Campus. “At the time of admission on July 9,college authorities did not give me a proper receipt,but just a piece of paper stamped and signed. When I approached the authorities for cancellation of the seat on July 27,they deliberately kept me waiting till August 2. Later,they refused to return my original documents. The college authorities took back the fee receipt and said no fee would not be refunded,” a student said in his complaint.

Reacting to the allegations,P E Society chairman Gajanan Ekbote said aggrieved students would be refunded the fee within seven days,if the allegations are found to be true. “The affected students can approach me. We have a grievance redressal cell for students,where issues regarding fee are addressed effectively,” he told Newsline on Thursday.

JSPM Narhe Technical Campus officials were not available for comments.

DTE Joint Director P V Sarode said merits in complaints made about non-refund of fees and alleged deliberate delay in cancellation of admission would be verified. “Legitimate action will be taken against engineering institutes if we they are found guilty of holding students to ransom,” he said.