The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : University asked to refund excess fee to student

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

University asked to refund excess fee to student

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Upa Lok Ayukta has directed the University of Kerala to refund the excess amount of Rs. 700 remitted as fee by B. R. Namrata, a student of the PG Diploma programme in Education, Planning Management and Administration. The varsity was also asked to pay Rs. 500 as compensation to the student.

The complainant had remitted Rs. 4,500 as course fee to the University whereas she had to pay only Rs. 3,800. When she requested the University registrar to refund the money she had remitted in excess by mistake, the Assistant Registrar at the Institute of Distance Education recommended that the money be refunded. But the university refused.

In its statement before the Lok Ayukta the University contended that it decided against a refund because the excess amount was remitted for no fault of the university. As per the prospectus the fee, once paid, will not be refunded, the university argued.

The Upa Lok Ayukta noted that what is mentioned in the prospectus is about the prescribed fee. Any money paid in excess cannot be termed fee. The complainant had not asked that the fee be refunded; only, the excess money remitted.. “The action of the university in refusing to refund the amount is unreasonable, unjust and oppressive… It is shameful that a university which controls institutions of learning stooped to such a level for a few silver coins,” the order reads.

The compensation has been awarded under section 13 of the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act. After making the payment the university shall file an action taken report, the order adds.

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