Delhi coaching centres restrained from charging fees in one go

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Delhi coaching centres restrained from charging fees in one go
New Delhi, Oct 24:

In what may come as good news to students unsatisfied with their courses yet in a fee-trap, a consumer court has ordered all Delhi-based coaching and educational centres not to charge money in advance for their services and held that the rule "fees once paid is not refundable" is "unconscionable and voidable." "All training imparting institutes, educational centres preparing the students for entrance examinations... Are hereby directed not to charge the fee for the whole duration of the course in advance by way of lumpsum payment," the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission headed by Justice J D Kapoor and Member Rumnitta Mittal said.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Kapoor cautioned all such institutes that any violation of the order shall attract punitive damages and the erring officials may be sent to jail under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.

Dismissimg the appeal filed by south-Delhi-based M/s FIIT-JEE Ltd against the order of a District Consumer Forum which had held it guilty of "unfair trade practices," the Commission gave the students liberty to leave the course if they found the same not satisfactory.

"Student may leave in the midst if he finds the service deficient and sub-standard and non-yielding and therefore is entitled for the refund of the balance fees as well as compensation due to deficiency in service," said Justice Kapoor upholding the District Forum's verdict.

As per the complaint of one Minathi Rath, a resident of Ansari Nagar, his daughter, an IIT aspirant, took admission in a two-year training course with the FIIT-JEE in April 2004 and had paid Rs 60,020 as lump sum fees in advance.

--- PTI