Refund fee of student for opting out of class, Chandigarh coaching institute told

CHANDIGARH: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a coaching institute in Sector 34, Chandigarh, to refund fees of a student who opted out of the class and pay compensation and litigation cost of Rs 25,000.
Dheeraj Kumar, a resident of Sector 29, said he got admission in JEE mains course of "Bansal Classes" on August 29, 2017, and paid Rs 53,500. On account of unavoidable circumstances, he could not continue his course and approached for refund, he said.
The complainant again made a request on November 3, 2017, but the request was refused. On December 4, 2017, he got a legal notice served on the institute.
In its reply, the institute said the complainant studied up to November 2, 2017, and discontinued classes/coaching without giving any reason. The institute argued he was not entitled for the refund as per rules. Pleading there was no deficiency in service or unfair trade practice, the institute sought the dismissal of the complaint.
The forum held the institute could not charge full advance fees for the entire course. "The institute has indulged in unfair trade practice as it ought to have refunded the balance fee after deducting the fee for the period of 65 days, which it failed to do, and propelled this unwarranted and uncalled for litigation. At any rate, it even did not bother to redress the grievance of the complainant," the forum held.
The institute was asked to refund the entire fee deposited by the complainant after deducting the proportionate fee from August 29, 2017, to November 2, 2017. It was also asked to pay Rs 15,000 as compensation to the complainant for the unfair trade practice and harassment caused to him and Rs 10,000 as litigation expenses.