Institute told to refund Rs 1 lakh
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has directed a Noida-based institute to refund Rs 1,09,000 to a city student and also pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for misleading him regarding a professional course
Lovem Bansal, a resident of Pipliwala Town, Manimajra, in the complaint filed before the commission said in May 2022, while exploring for some courses for higher education, he came to know about CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and came in contact with Edumont Classes, Tower Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
He sent all marksheets of graduation to the institute and on the basis of which he received an e-mail on May 22, 2022 whereby he was declared as qualified for CPA examination.
It was further stated in the email that he did not need to continue any further programme and can do so after passing all CPA examinations.
Accordingly, he opted to enroll in the Edumont CPA programme and paid Rs 1,09,000 for academic fee and support.
On July 28, he provided all documents in order to obtain enrolment information. He was again informed that his education was sufficient. After 40 days of correspondence, he was informed that he needed to get enrolled into MCom without which he could not appear in the CPA exam.
Alleging that the acts amount to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on the part of the institute he filed a complaint. Lovem Bansal himself argued the case before the commission
However, the institute in reply denied the allegations. It said since he did not have the requisite 150 semester hour credits, he was not eligible for obtaining the CPA licence and for that he must enroll in a university for higher education such as MCom. Pleading that there is no deficiency in service or unfair practice on their part, the institute prayed for dismissal of the complaint.
After hearing arguments, the commission said defence of the institute that the complainant was eligible to take/appear in the CPA examination is totally belied from their email which was also in clear deviation from their earlier email dated May 22, 2022 and the same certainly amounts to misrepresentation on their part.
This must have caused immense harassment to the complainant as it affected his career prospects, the commission observed.
In view of this, the institute is directed to refund the amount of Rs 1,09,000 to the complainant, along with interest @9% per annum, and also pay Rs 10,000 to the complainant as compensation for the harassment caused to him as well as litigation expenses.
