From: 10.10.2010
V.Baburaj F/o. VIKRAMAN.B. – Regn. No.6121074
Plot 61, Godavary Street, Ramnagar Extn.
Kilambakkam, A.A.Nagar Post
Chengleput Tk, Kancheepuram Dist. T.N.
To:
The President
Consumer Forum of India
New Delhi.
Sir,
My son B.VIKRAMAN – Regn. No.6121074 had been offered S024 – Mech Engg. in Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad (ISM/D) thro’ IIT-JEE in the 1st round. After paying Regn. Fee of Rs.40, 000/-, he participated in 2nd round. However, there were no changes, as expected. Hence, he did not join ISM/D and got admission in some other College, where he gets his choice of preference with other favourable conveniences/requirements. Therefore, my son did not report/ join S024 course at ISM/D.
So, naturally ISM/D has to refund the fees. We made repeated requests/Emails/ Fax for cancelling the seat allotted and refunding the amount. To our dismay, we received a letter dt.17.09.10 from ISM/D stating that “a decision was taken not to refund the Acceptance Fee/Registration Fee of Rs.40, 000/- to those candidates who did not join after second round of allotment of courses”. In this connection, I submit the following points to substantiate my plea for re-consideration of IIT-JAB & ISM/D and arranging refund of the Registration fees.
1. As per clause 1.3.2.8 of Counselling Brochure issued to the qualified IIT-JEE candidates, we handed over IOB BC No.752251338/09.06.10 for Rs.1, 000/- towards Counselling fee exclusively. It has been clearly stated in the said Brochure that this Counselling fee is not refundable.
2. As per the Clause 1.4.1, we handed over IOB DD No.180289/10.07.10 (in f/o Chairman/IIT/M payable at Chennai) for Rs.40, 000/- towards Registration fee. Last line states “This amount will be adjusted towards the fee to be paid at the time of admission”. It is pertinent to mention here that as there is no warning about refunding status, we enquired in person the IIT/M JEE office on refunding position, in case the candidate is not willing to join even after 2nd round. They categorically replied that it would be refunded within a reasonable time by ISM/D, since the DD would be sent to ISM/D towards Institute fees.
3. As per Clause 1.4.2, we left with no choice than to pay the Registration fee of Rs.40, 000/- for participating in the 2nd allotment. In the same Clause, IIT/M could have stipulated on the REFUND position, which would have enabled us to throw away the dream of testing our luck and getting admissions in the world renowned institutes.
4. Since no choice of higher preference was allotted in the 2nd round, we requested ISM/D thro’ letters, Emails, Fax, etc., as per directions in the reply-mail of IIT/M, for cancelling the seat allotted at ISM/D and refunding the allotment fees of Rs.40, 000/-. After about two months, I received a reply dt.17.09.10 from ISM/D stating that IIT-JAB (Joint Admission Board) met & discussed at IIT/Kanpur on 24.08.10 and a decision was taken “not to refund the Acceptance Fee/Registration Fee of Rs.40, 000/- to those candidates who did not join after second round of allotment of courses”.
5. Under what circumstances/authority and the reasons by which, the IIT-JAB had taken such decision not to refund the Registration Fee should be made known to us so that we can represent to them or justify our plea for refunding such the amount.
6. IIT-JEE is not a contract and the Registration Fee of Rs.40, 000/- paid for participating in the second round of allotment is not EMD. It should be refunded and cannot be forfeited.
7.
However, I request that a special meeting may be convened by IIT-JAB to reconsider its decision for arranging refund of Rs.40, 000/- to the candidates who have not joined the institutes, including my son, keeping in mind the following reasons.
i. Online Counselling is resorted to for getting admission in the preferred institute/course by successful candidates, try to fill all the seats, no seat is kept vacant, avoid requests for change of course/institute at later stage, discontinuance of studies, etc. Hence, the Registration Fee is paid for studying the particular course/institute and not for blocking the seat.
ii. Of course this is the first time that IITs having its admission through online Counselling. So naturally, there must be some lacunae. This can be sorted out in such a way that both candidates and the institutes not affected, prudently keeping in mind the participants & their parents down the level.
iii. If not, then there is no meaning at all in having two rounds of allotment for selecting higher preference. In other words, we might not have participated and paid Rs.40, 000/- in the gambling.
iv. In the IIT-JEE 2010 information brochure or Counselling brochure, there is no Notification stating that refund of Regn. Fee will not been made, in case the candidates not reported to the allotted institute, even after 2nd round. Had there been such notification, we would not have paid and tried our luck.
v. Against the copious funds diverted for developing these institutes, the no.of such refundable amount would be very very very less & negligible.
vi. Instead of punishing these young intellects who have struggled with both school & JEE syllabi, prepared day and night, written & came through Exams successfully in the ratio 1:50, a fool proof system should be implemented for their admission.
vii. To support the higher education, Govt. is sanctioning even interest free Education loans on one hand and on the other, hard earned money is swallowed on decision made by IIT-JAB.
viii. Such decision shall desist the poor/OBC (NCL) people taking part in JEE and dreaming about the IIT admissions.
ix. It is not out of place to mention, as gathered, that the organizing institute, IIT/Madras itself had refunded the allotment fees to those who have not registered/joined the course at IIT/M after 2nd round allotment.
x. Rs.40, 000/- is not paid from the hefty wallet. It is about two months’ bread and butter for our family.
xi. The mental torture/agony on losing this Rs.40, 000/- for no fault of ours, but for the decision of such world renowned institutions, made our family members to have sleepless nights.
xii. Instead of setting as an example for the private institutes, these prestigious Govt institutes are not following its own rules. Can we expect the private run educational institutes to follow Govt. rules?
xiii. In the next IIT-JEE, it is suggested they can implement the NON REFUNDING clause by giving clear cut Notification to the candidates.
xiv. www.ismdhanbad.ac.in/academic/rules/Rules_for_Foreign_students.pdf page.3 Clause-F. “Payment of Tuition Fees” clearly states about 50% waiver of fees, even for hostel, for the student from SAARC countries (Point-1) and firmly denies “The fees once paid are not refundable. However in case of candidates not registered and enrolled for the course selected due to not running of the programme, they are entitled to the refund of Fees as per rules in force from time to time at the Institute” (Point-2).
xv. Had there been any intimation published in the same website like this for IIT-JEE candidates also, either we would have second thought to prefer the choice at ISM/D or avoided ISM/D in the choice of preference.
xvi. Here also it would be relevant to mention that ISM/D or any Indian Govt. institutes may not discourage and deprive the students of its own country than SAARC countries at least in getting such notification and avoid competing in the race so that our money earned by squeezing ourselves for betterment would be really spent in the directions prudently.
xvii. Had my son admitted in S024 of ISM/D, he would be studying there by paying only Rs.30, 492/-, which must be inclusive of refundable deposits also. Whereas for not studying at ISM/D, we should not be punished by not refunding the amount of Rs.40, 000/-, 25% more than the actual fees in the name of Registration fee by the Institute having illustrious & unique history.
Under the situation given above, it is requested to kindly arrange for
a) a special and urgent meeting of IIT-JAB to reconsider its decision, not to refund the Acceptance Fee/Registration of Rs.40, 000/-, taken at IIT, Kanpur on 21.08. as conveyed by ISM, Dhanbad on 17.09.2010 to me, without mentioning any directions of apex authorities.
b) considering the above vital points for refunding as well as for IIT-JEE &
c) refunding the Acceptance Fee/Registration Fee of Rs.40, 000/- to all the candidates who have not registered/joined the course after second round allotment of IIT-JEE, including my son B.VIKRAMAN-Regn. No.6121074.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
BABURAJ V
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