Not getting a government job with a degree issued by a recognised college or university does not amount to deficiency on part of the educational institution, warranting refund of fee, the apex consumer forum has held.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission made this observation while dismissing the petition of a Maharashtra native seeking refund of fee and compensation from an educational institution alleging that the marksheet issued by it to his son was of no use in getting a job.
The petitioner had also contended that the marksheet was not issued by a government recognised college or university as asked by him, but the Commission found otherwise.
The NCDRC bench of justices Ajit Bharihoke and Suresh Chandra upheld the order of the district and the Maharashtra state consumer dispute redressal commission, which also had dismissed the petition.
"Since the course for which the college had given admission to the son of the petitioner is a recognised course as can be seen from the documents placed by the petitioner himself before the fora, no fault could be found with the impugned order.
"Simply because the petitioner is unable to secure a job on the basis of the degree obtained by him cannot be a ground for alleging deficiency in service on the part of the respondent college," the NCDRC said.
The petitioner's son took admission in Ashok Education Centre in B.Ed degree course in July, 2003. After completing the course, he was issued a marksheet from Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad.
The petitioner alleged that he approached the college and requested its principal to issue a valid B.Ed degree because according to him, the marksheet given by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan was of no use in getting a job.
He alleged that the degree of B.Ed course issued by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan was not valid and as such there was deficiency in service on the part of the college and claimed refund of fee of Rs 39,500, including the donation and the course fee.
The Commission, however, noted that a notification issued by Central Board of Secondary Education recognised B.Ed degree of Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag, Allahabad.
The NCDRC agreed with the State Consumer Forum's findings that the complainant must have taken admission and appeared for B.Ed examination after knowing the full prospectus and notification and therefore, there cannot be any surprise, as alleged, on receipt of the marksheet issued by the institute.
Also, the course was recognised by CBSE, it said.
