21 July,2017 09:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Silky Sharma
Department of education notice to South Indian Welfare Society (SIWS) College of Economics and Commerce in Wadala, asking it to refund students' money has gone unanswered; no refunds made either
SIWS College at Wadala has said that it did no wrong. Pic/Datta Kumbhar
Here's another victory for the small man, albeit in small portions. After students of the South Indian Welfare Society (SIWS) College of Economics and Commerce in Wadala filed a complaint against the college for unfairly charging them Rs 1,100 as capitation fee, the Deputy Director of Education issued a notice asking them to return the money. However, though a month has gone by since the notice was issued, the students haven't heard back at all.
One of the receipts issued to students and submitted as proof
Students allege
The students alleged that despite getting aid from the government, the college has made them pay R600 for security service, maintenance, housekeeping and Rs 500 for sport, cultural and gymkhana fees. "Despite paying our fees, the college forced us to pay extra money, without which, they were reluctant to issue the ID card," said a former class 12 SIWS student, who lodged the complaint with the Forum for Fairness, along with receipts as proof that were then forwarded to the deputy director's office on January 4.
After four months, on June 12, the education department issued the notice against the college and instructed it to refund Rs 1,050 to each student - a total of Rs 27,14,040 - and sent a report to the deputy director's office.
However, a month has passed, but neither has the college issued the refund, not reported back to the education department.
"We are happy that education department has sent a notice to the college and asked them to refund our money, but the college has not communicated anything yet," said another students from SIWS.
Meanwhile, deputy director of education, BB Chavan said, "Except the assigned college fees, aided colleges are not supposed to charge extra money for anything from the students. We have sent a notice to the SIWS College, but they haven't yet reported to us on whether they returned the students' money."
College speaks out
Speaking to mid-day, principal of SIWS, Usha Iyer said, "Our college has not indulged in any collection of capitation fees and we are in the process of filing our appropriate response to the letter received from the Deputy Director of Education. Unfortunately, certain disgruntled elements are planting incorrect reports to cause damage to the educational institution."
