Pune Consumer Forum Orders FIITJEE To Refund 50% Fees After Student Left Course Midway

Mubarak Ansari

Pune, 2nd September 2021: The additional district consumer disputes redressal commission, Pune, has directed FIITJEE Limited to refund Rs 36,738.50 out of Rs 73,477 fee which was paid for national level entrance exams, IIT advanced preparation but the student had left the course after few months.

Pravin Thakare of Kondhwa had filed the complaint in July 2016 against FIITJEE Limited’s Swargate branch. His daughter had taken admission in August 2015 for the two-year course but she left classes after February 2016 as she was not interested in the course.

Thakare had approached the institute to get a 50% refund of the fee but FIITJEE had refused citing various clauses in the undertaking and declaration. After this, he filed the complaint before the consumer court.

The forum relied on a Supreme Court judgement in which it has been stated that an institute can collect fees for one semester or one year at a time. However, FIITJEE had taken fees for two years.

Therefore, the consumer forum has ordered FIITJEE Limited to refund Rs 36,738.50 with 8% interest since 28 July 2016. If the amount is not paid within 45 days, the rate of interest will be charged at 12%.

Besides the fee, the forum has also ordered the institute to pay Rs 6000 as litigation cost and compensation for mental agony.