Chitkara varsity fined for cut in fee refund

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum- II has directed Chitkara University to pay Rs 20,000 to a city resident, who withdrew his admission after attending only the orientation session but was not refunded the entire fee.

In June 2016, Kunal Thakur had got admission in computer science engineering course at the institute and paid Rs 93,000 as fee. He attended the orientation programme but withdrew the admission a day before classes commenced and demanded a refund.

According to the complainant, as per the terms and conditions of the university’s admission brochure, he was entitled to a refund of Rs 89,500 after deducting Rs 1,000 towards processing charges and Rs 2,500 as counselling charges. However, the university refunded Rs 79,500 only and failed to refund the remaining amount despite repeated requests.

The forum observed that the university did not stand by its own rules and regulations and found it deficient in service as also indulging in unfair trade practice. It thus directed the university to refund Rs 13,000 to Thakur and pay Rs 2,000 as compensation for mental agony and physical harassment along with Rs 5,000 as litigation expenses.