Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 26: The Khurda district consumer disputes redressal forum here directed a private management college to refund a student’s course fee over deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.
The direction came after complainant Biswajit Kar (29) explained to the court that he had deposited Rs 46, 000 as course fee for a two-year MBA programme in the Fortune School of Management at Niladri Vihar, but after the admission into the course the college did not conduct any class.
Kar said when he enquired into the matter he found out that the Fortune School of Management was neither affiliated to Utkal University nor the North Orissa University.
The complainant added that he urged the institute November 28, 2010 to refund Rs 46,000 but it only refunded Rs 3,000.
The college has claimed that there was no suppression of material facts, but it did not respond to repeated calls by the forum. After hearing the matter, the forum announced that educational institutions cannot withhold the admission fee if a candidate does not want to continue studies.
The forum December 16, 2014 directed the college to refund the balance course fee amounting to Rs 43, 000 to the complainant along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum from the date of respective deposit till the date of actual refund.
“The litigation cost was assessed at Rs 20, 000 payable by the college to the complainant. The order should be executed by the college within one month from the date of communication of this order,” the forum said.
