Since the lockdown began in the country all the activities were forced to stop, education institutes were shut, exams were postponed, schools, college were said to promote online classes. During the lockdown period when the economy is going stagnant the schools and colleges were requested to withdraw the fee system for the year as everyone was affected due to the economic problem. Yet many schools and educational institutes continue to ask parents to pay the school fees.
One such case came in forward as a girl who failed to deposit the second installment of fees was not allowed to appear for the online class by one of the reputed educational institute of the city.
Mithilesh Choudhary, father of a student who study in IIT Home, new Ramdaspeth, was not allowed to take up the online classes after he failed to deposit the second installment of fees on time after which parent moved to District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission against IIT Home seeking justice.
The Commission then passed an interim order directing the girl’s father to deposit the fee amount with the Commission and also asked the IIT Home Directors to start the classes thereafter.
Even after Choudhary deposited the installment the coaching institute did not follow the order after which he had to file an application before the Commission under section 71 of Consumer Protection Act.
However IIT Home Directors sought bail and informed that they would appeal against the interim order.
Choudhary in a press conference said there were many parents like him who had to bear the cost for non-payment of fees. In his complaint to the District Consumer Redressal Commission, filed on behalf of his daughter, Choudhary raised allegation against Nisha Kothari, Managing Director at IIT Home and Lalita Kothari, Director, New Ramdaspeth.
Choudhary informed that his daughter joined the first year of two years JEE – mains/advance in May 2019. The first year course was supposed to be completed by May 2020. But the physical classes were suspended from March 2020 due to lockdown. He was informed to pay Rs 1.70 lakh for seeking admission in second year by the institute.
He requested IIT Home authorities to waive off 50% of the fee amount but they refused and soon after they stopped online classes.
He alleged that the institute also trimmed its teaching staff to almost half and imposed pay cuts on them, due to which some good teaching staff left the institute.
Choudhary filed a complaint on July 31 with the Commission which directed him to deposit Rs 1.70 lakh in commission and ordered the institute to start classes after the amount is deposited. However despite depositing the amount the institute did not share any online class links with the girl. When Choudhary again filed application in the Commission, it issued summons against the two directors of IIT Home to appear in person and seek bail.
Choudhary has alleged that it was a matter of concern for all the parents as how these coaching institutes are looting money of helpless parents.
