Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission(MRTPC) has told S P Jain Institute of Management and Research(SPJIMR) to return Rs 1.4 lakh to an applicant who later took admission in IIM-Lucknow.The commission held that the scheme of changing from an institution to the other by a student was "inherent to the entire system"."We found that SPJIMR has indulged in unfair trade practices and also brought about additional cost on the applicant by forfeiting the entire amount," M M Sardana, acting chairman, MRTPC said."It (the institute) is not expected to make undue gains particularly in a situation where the system allows the candidate to change their institution before the commencement of the course," Sardana added.MRTPC has asked the institute to refund Rs 1.4 lakhs to the applicant, Varun Gupta within six weeks.Gupta had appeared in the Common Admission Test for management institutes in 2002. On the basis of his score, SPJIMR sent an admission letter in April 2002.The institute had mentioned that Gupta would have to deposit a non-refundable sum of Rs 1.4 lakh.As per instructions, Gupta took admission by submitting Rs 1.4 lakh. Later, he got a confirmed call from IIM Lucknow and took admission there. He also informed SPJIMR and sought refund, but SPJIMR refused to return the fees paid as per the terms of admission, forcing the candidate to approach MRTPC.
