Chennai's dental college to refund Rs 37,500, and compensate student

Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed a private dental college to refund admission fees paid by a student who discontinued dental course to join MBBS course. The forum directed the college to refund Rs 37,500 along with a compensation of Rs 20,000 to the student.

The petitioner, M.Shruthi Mithra of Koyambedu, submitted that she was allotted a seat in BDS course under the Government quota by the Tamil Nadu Government Selection Committee in Madha Dental College. She joined the course by paying Rs 75,000 towards fee for first year course and handed over the original certificates. She attended the classes from 5.9.2008 to 24.09.2008. During counselling, she paid Rs 2,500 towards tuition fee in advance as per the allotment procedure. Later, she received another counselling letter from the Selection Committee for admission into MBBS course. She was selected for admission into MBBS course at Meenakshi Medical College under the Management Quota.

When, the dental college refused to return the documents, she approached Additional Director of Medical Education/Secretary Selection Committee, Chennai. Only after the direction from the committee, the college returned the certificates. However, the college not refunded the fees paid by her. In the
petition, she stated that the act of the college amounts to deficiency in service and caused her mental agony and hardship. She sought direction to the secretary and chairman, Madha Group of Academic Institutions and Principal of Madha Dental College to refund Rs 75,000 with interest and Rs 1.10 lakh towards compensation.