The Pune District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum president V P Utpat and member S M Kumbhar have directed Vibgyor High School, Mohammedwadi to refund Rs 40,000 along with Rs 10,000 compensation and Rs 1,000 towards suit charges to a parent.
The decision was taken after Manoj Girdharilal Saraf, a resident of Malad in Mumbai, had filed a plaint against the school through his lawyer Ketan Parchure on September 29, 2011 stating that the school didn’t refund the full amount that he had paid towards fees after he cancelled his children’s admission.
Saraf’s complaint stated, ”I am a resident of Mumbai and works as vice-president (finance) in a private milk product company based in Pune. My job is transferable and at the time, I resided in Pune along with my wife and son and daughter. I approached Vibgyor school in Pune for admission. The school authorities claimed that they have branches in Pune, Mumbai and Kolhapur and my children can be transferred to those schools. I enrolled my children in April 2011 in standards VI and VII. I was provided with the prospectus and admission form assuring that the children will get admission if required in Mumbai branch of the school. I paid Rs 92,000 by cheque.”
His plaint added that at the time of provisional admission, he hadn’t submitted school leaving certificates and address proof. ”I got transferred to Mumbai again and hence requested the school to transfer my kids to their Mumbai branch on May 16. The school was going to open on June 6, 2011. The school refused to transfer my children’s admission and asked me cancel the admission. Of the Rs 92,000, they refunded only Rs 52,000 and retained Rs 40,000.”
Saraf’s lawyer Parchure argued, ”Saraf has sustained financial loss and incurred travelling, communication expenses due to the indifferent attitude of the school. Also, his children could not get admission for one-and-a-half months.”
The school had filed a written statement denying the charges levelled by Saraf saying, ”We never promised to give admission to the children in any other branches of the school. From the total Rs 92,000 paid by Saraf, Rs 40,000 has been deducted as admission fee which is non-refundable as mentioned in the admission form.”
The forum observed, ”At the time of admission, he did not produce school leaving certificates as well as address proof. Unless these documents are produced, the admission process cannot be completed. Saraf had informed the school in May about his transfer and the academic year had not started. In such circumstances, the objection raised by the school for not refunding Rs 40,000 is illogical.”
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