The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Panjab University to refund Rs 1,10,274 and 50 paisa, which it had taken as tuition fee from a student who withdrew from the course after attending classes for 15 days.The complainant, Shallu Garg, a resident of Patiala, had secured admission in MSc-I (Honours) Biochemistry under the ‘Industry Sponsored Seat’ for the academic session 2006-07 and paid Rs 1,22,527.50 towards course fee.It was averred that while the classes started in July, she took admission in the second week of September against a vacant seat. About a week later, she was offered a seat in MSc-I (Anatomy) at the Government Medical College, Patiala. She informed the PU of her decision to quit and requested that the fee submitted by her be refunded. The complainant said she made repeated rounds of the university with her father, but the fee was not refunded.In its reply, PU said the complainant left the department on September 22, 2006, and applied for the refund on November 10. This date was beyond the stipulated period of 10 days, within which the application for refund of fee is to be made according to rules.Forum president Jagroop Singh Mahal said: “The complainant was given admission in the second week of September against a seat which could not be filled up in the general admissions. She attended the classes only for 15 days. She did not get the admission at the cost of any other student and, therefore, if she left the course, no harm was caused to any student or to the PU,” the verdict said.“Retaining the fees, which should otherwise be returned to the complainant, is by itself a deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice,” the forum added.It said the university was entitled to deduct only 10 per cent of the tuition fee, which was Rs 12,252.75 as administrative charges.
