Mumbai's law college breaks law, seeks fee for NOC

Private educational institutions in the city are now openly flouting all rules and intimidating students to keep their business rolling.

More than a dozen LLB students of the Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Law in Chembur, who passed their first and second year in 2011-12, wanted to join other colleges for the next academic year to complete the course. But the college insisted that they pay the entire fee for the next year as well.

As per university rules, a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and a Leaving Certificate (LC) from the previous college are  required to finalise a student’s admission at a new college. Some students who have been unable to leave the college despite securing seats in others, said, “The college is refusing to give us our NOCs till we deposit next year’s fees. They are not budging from their decision. We can’t afford the fees for two colleges so we had to drop the idea of changing the college. We are now forced to study here.”

The college is also not letting Allowed To Keep Term (ATKT) students join another college. One such student alleged, “Authorities show me the ‘rule book’ and say the university doesn’t permit transfer of ATKT students. But they are ready to give me an NOC if I deposit the fees for the next two years, that is Rs25,000.”

Anxious students verbally complained to the University of Mumbai but were asked to submit a detailed complaint in writing. Fearing adverse reactions from the management, they have not done so.

Principal of the college, Jyoti Deshmukh, denied the allegations. “Going by the college rules, we asked them to pay for one year, not two.”

The university denied any restrictions for ATKT students. PRO of the university and in-charge of the students’ grievance cell, Vinod Malale said they would initiate an inquiry once they get a written complaint from the students. “Our rules don’t allow colleges to charge students any such fee for seeking an NOC,” he said.