NCDRC gives relief to coaching institute

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has held that students are not entitled to refund of fees from coaching institutes if they withdraw mid-way in the course on their "sweet will".

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has held that students are not entitled to refund of fees from coaching institutes if they withdraw mid-way in the course on their "sweet will".

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"Once the candidate has entered into an agreement to abide by the rules and has voluntarily deposited the course fee, he cannot at his sweet will withdraw from it and then demand the refund of the fee on the plea of the institute holding irregular classes or rendering sub-standards lessons," the Commission, comprising Justices B N P Singh and S K Naik, said.

The NCDRC passed the order on the plea of Brilliant Classes, a coaching institute, and advised aspirants to ascertain details regarding course before depositing the fee.

"It was his (student) responsibility to have ascertained the details with regard to the running of the course by the institute before depositing the course fee for being enrolled," the apex consumer body said in its ruling.

The institute approached the Commission seeking to quash the order of Delhi State Commission directing it to refund the fee to student Ashbel Sam for deficiency in service.

The Commission noted that the complainant had willingly accepted the condition that the fee deposited will not be refunded.

"Sam was a willing party to the agreement that the course fee will not be refunded, even if he withdrew in the mid-stream," it said.