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Students Demand Refunds Over Unapproved Fees at ILS Law
22 Apr
Summary
- Students seek refunds for alleged excess fees charged illegally.
- DHE ordered college to refund Rs1.04 lakh with 6% interest.
- Over 30 students have formally requested refunds from the college.
Students at Pune's ILS Law College are actively seeking refunds for fees they claim were illegally charged under unapproved heads. This movement gained traction after the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) ordered the college to reimburse Rs1.04 lakh, plus 6% interest, to a student for fees collected "illegally and in a non-transparent manner" between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 academic years.
In response to the DHE's April 13 directive, over 30 students have formally approached the college demanding their own refunds. Many students expressed concerns about the consistent collection of "other fees" annually without clear explanations or state approval. They believe the recent DHE order validates their claims of financial irregularities.
Beyond direct college appeals, students are planning to escalate the issue to Savitribai Phule Pune University, with a joint representation expected on Wednesday. One student, Mayur Garud, who initiated the complaint leading to the DHE order, stated that over 1,000 students from Pune law colleges have contacted him regarding similar excess fee charges, suggesting a widespread problem. Garud is preparing to approach the Bombay High Court with a joint petition to extend relief to all affected students. The DHE has instructed ILS Law College to submit a compliance report to the state government, which will be presented before the Bombay High Court, following a court-mandated inquiry.
