Engineering and other professional colleges in the state are refusing to refund fees and return original certificates in case students cancel their admissions later. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has received several complaints from students against colleges for harassing them to pay the entire course fee even if they cancel the admission later. Students complained that the managements were holding back their original certificates saying that they will be returned only if they pay the entire fee, which is in violation of the rules.

AICTE issued a public notice in June 2009, saying that in the event of a student withdrawing before the start of the course, the fee collected from the student minus a processing fee of not more than `1,000, must be refunded to the student. AICTE also said that if a student leaves after joining the course, and the seat is filled by another candidate before the last date of admission, the institution must return the fee collected with proportionate deductions of monthly fee and hostel rent, wherever applicable. It also warned institutions that any violation of these instructions will invite punitive action, including withdrawal of approval and recognition of the erring institutions.

Students can complain to AICTE or the UGC, which has issued more or less similar instructions on fee refund. If even after that they fail to get the refund, they can seek redress before the court. With no common academic calendar followed by professional colleges, many students are forced to pay the fees and hand over the original certificates.

Source : DC