A Nagpur consumer commission has ordered an IIT coaching institute to refund a student’s tuition fees after ruling that failure to provide the quality of education and facilities promised at the time of admission amounted to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.
In its order issued earlier this month, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held the director of IIT Point Coaching Classes responsible for not delivering the commitments made through promotional material and advertisements used to attract students. The commission observed that the institute had failed to commence classes within the timeline assured to students and had not provided a valid explanation for the delay.
According to the complaint filed by the student’s father, his son was enrolled in the institute’s two-year programme and a total of Rs 1.35 lakh was paid through online transfers and cash instalments between March and July 2024. The complainant stated that the coaching centre had assured that regular classes would begin on April 1, 2024. However, the commencement of classes was allegedly postponed until June, resulting in academic disruption and stress for the student.
The father further alleged that the institute failed to provide the experienced faculty and quality teaching standards that had been promised during the admission process. Despite repeated representations to the management, the grievances remained unresolved, he claimed. As dissatisfaction grew over the standard of education and facilities, the student discontinued the course on August 28, 2024. The family later sought a full refund of the fees paid and issued a legal notice to the institute in October 2024 after receiving no response. With the coaching centre failing to appear before the commission despite receiving notices, the case proceeded ex parte.
After examining the documents and submissions placed on record, the commission concluded that the institute had failed to fulfil its commitments and had engaged in unfair trade practices. The consumer body directed the coaching institute to refund the entire tuition fee of Rs 1.35 lakh along with interest at the rate of nine per cent per annum from December 2, 2024, the date on which the complaint was filed, until the amount is paid.
In addition, the commission ordered the institute to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation for the mental distress, inconvenience and harassment caused to the student and his family, along with Rs 5,000 towards litigation expenses.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com