UGC warns over fee non-refund

Universities and higher educational institutions have been warned by the University Grants Commission (UGC) against non-refund of fee and retention of original certificates of students who opt out after taking admission.

“The commission is still receiving complaints from students/parents regarding non-refund of fees by universities and colleges which are collecting full fee from the admitted students and retaining their original school-leaving certificates,” UGC secretary Jaspal Sandhu said in a communication to varsities warning them of compliance of the order.

The education regulator had in 2007 barred the varsities from doing so by noting that the “forced” retention of admitted students limits the opportunities for the candidates from exercising options of joining other institutions of their choice.

The fresh directive by UGC comes in wake of various complaints received by it from students and parents. According to UGC regulation, if a student withdraws admission before starting of a course, the waitlisted candidate should be given admission against the vacant seat and the fee collected should be refunded after deduction of processing fee not more than Rs 1,000.

If students leave after joining the course and the seat consequently falling vacant has been filled by any other candidate by last date of admission, the university should return the fee collected after proportionate deduction of monthly fee and hostel rent, wherever applicable, the regulations state.