complaint against University (SGGSWU), ordered to refund the entire fee after withdrawal of student

And we thought that maintaining a waitlist for the candidates requiring admission in an educational institute was management 101.

Apparently, a University in Punjab doesn’t think so, refusing to refund the fee of a candidate who had withdrawn from the course before it commenced on the ground that the vacated seat could no longer be filled!

Amritsar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed SGPC-run Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University (SGGSWU) here to refund the fee paid by a consumer after she withdrew from the course. The University had denied refund on the ground that withdrawal happened after last date of admission after which the vacated seat could not be filled. According to the Prospectus, admission could be withdrawn only within 2 weeks of admission.

The forum took a stand which is consistent with the stance of the consumer forums across the country in this regard, ordering the University to make a full refund of the entire amount deposited deducting only processing fee of not more than Rs. 1000.

The Forum also referred to the Punjab government’s notification that “in keeping with the direction of Ministry of Human Resource Development Department, all institutions and universities shall maintain a waiting list of candidates. In case a candidate withdraws before the course begins, the waitlisted candidates should be given admission against the vacant seat.

The Forum directed SGGSWU to refund Rs. 35,000 after deducting Rs. 1,000 as processing fee within one month of receipt of the copy of this order otherwise 6% interest will be levied till its realisation.

Consumer forum directs SGGSWU to refund fee (Hindustan Times)