Pune: ILS Law College Accused of Massive Overcharging, Students Demand Probe

Pune, 12th March 2025: In a shocking revelation, students and alumni of the prestigious ILS Law College, Pune, have alleged a multi-crore fee scam spanning multiple academic years. During a joint press conference today at Patrakar Bhavan in Navi Peth, they accused the college of systematic overcharging, financial mismanagement, and lack of transparency, urging government authorities to intervene.

RTI data reveals that students were charged exorbitant fees under various heads, yet only a fraction of the collected amounts were utilized for their intended purposes. In the academic year 2020-21, for instance, ₹17,51,535 was collected as a Legal Aid Fee, but only ₹10,105 was spent. Similarly, ₹72,66,640 was collected under the Electronic Resources Fee, with only ₹43,315 utilized.

Students claim that many facilities listed under fee heads exist only on paper. Despite charging for legal aid, moot court, cultural activities, physical fitness, and e-learning resources, the institution allegedly failed to provide adequate services.

Complainants also accused ILS Law College of charging students for non-operational facilities during the COVID-19 lockdown. “While the campus remained shut, students were forced to pay for the gym, sports, moot courts, and cultural activities, which never took place,” said Mayur Garud, one of the complainants.

Another serious allegation is the college’s failure to provide government-mandated fee relief for SC, ST, and OBC students. The authorized fee structure of ₹4,721 was overshadowed by unauthorized charges amounting to ₹36,914—nearly 89% of the total fee. “The financial aid we are supposed to receive is meaningless when most of the fee is collected under unauthorized heads,” said Krushnakant Sathe, another complainant.

Students further accused the institution of double charging—collecting fees for campus facilities like sports grounds, gym, swimming pool, and parking while renting them out to private organizations and denying student access.

“Despite paying fees for these facilities, students are often barred from using them because they are rented out to external users. This is not just unethical but a clear case of financial exploitation,” said an ILS alumnus at the press conference.

In their official complaint to the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), Maharashtra, students and alumni have demanded:

• A government-led inquiry into the college’s financial records.
• Refund of excess fees collected from students.
• Penalties against those responsible for financial irregularities.
• Transparency in future fee structures to prevent further exploitation.

College Yet to Respond
Despite repeated attempts, ILS Law College principal Dr. Deepa Paturkar did not respond to calls or messages on the issue.

However, sources indicate that the institution may cite operational costs and infrastructural development as reasons for its financial policies.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), Pune, has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and is expected to initiate an investigation into the matter.