Failed to Grant B.Pharm Admission After Accepting Fee, Mangalayatan University Told to Refund Rs 2 Lakh
New Delhi: Holding Mangalayatan University responsible for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the institution to refund Rs 2 lakh, along with 9% annual interest, to the parent of a student after failing to provide the promised direct admission to the second year of the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) programme.
The Commission has also awarded ₹10,000 towards litigation expenses.
According to the complaint, Pramod Kumar Jaiswal, a resident of Durganagar, was approached by Vikas Saxena, who allegedly represented himself as an authorised representative of Mangalayatan University. Saxena reportedly assured Jaiswal that his son would be granted direct admission to the second year of the B.Pharm course.
Relying on this assurance, Jaiswal paid a total of ₹2 lakh, including ₹1 lakh in cash and another ₹1 lakh through a bank draft issued in favour of the university. However, despite receiving the payment, the university allegedly failed to grant admission to the student. The complainant further alleged that additional money was subsequently demanded to complete the admission process.
When the promised admission was not provided, Jaiswal sought a refund of the amount. Despite repeated requests, neither the admission was granted nor was the money returned, prompting him to approach the Consumer Commission seeking appropriate relief.
During the proceedings, the Commission examined the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, including banking records. The records confirmed that the bank draft of ₹1 lakh had been credited to the university’s account on September 26, 2019. Based on the evidence, the Commission concluded that the university had accepted the payment but failed to fulfil its commitment by providing admission or refunding the amount.
The Commission observed that accepting money for providing an educational service and subsequently failing to deliver the promised service amounted to deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act. It further held that retaining the money despite not providing admission constituted an unfair trade practice.
According to a recent media report in The420.in, the Commission found that the documentary evidence, including bank records, clearly established that the university had received the payment but failed to either provide admission or refund the amount.
Accordingly, in its order dated June 12, the Consumer Commission directed Mangalayatan University to refund the entire amount of ₹2 lakh to the complainant along with interest at the rate of 9% per annum from September 26, 2019, until the date of actual payment. The university was also directed to pay ₹10,000 towards litigation costs.
