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Dimapur, Dec. 18 (EMN): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities to refund fees for first year of under-graduate and post-graduate students for the session 2020-21 in view of Covid-19 pandemic, according to a DIPR report on Friday.
“In order to avoid financial hardship being faced by the parents due to lockdown and related factors, full refund of fees be made on account of all cancellation of admission/migration of students up to 30.11.2020. Therefore, on cancellation/ withdrawal of admissions up to 31.12.2020, the entire fee collected from a student be refunded in full after deduction of not more than INR 1000 as procession fee,” it quoted a UGC order reportedly issued on December 17.
According to the commission, it has been receiving several references in the form of RTI applications, complaints, public grievances and court cases in respect of non-refund of fee by the universities and institutions in violation of the UGC guidelines.
“The commission has taken a very serious view of such complaints. The complaints had come from the students who have taken admission in private or self financial universities and deemed to be universities and later opted out for one or the other reasons.
“The UGC guidelines were to be followed mandatorily by all the universities in letter and spirit. Any institution/ university found to be violating the guidelines and refusing to refund the fee by giving its own interpretation of the guidelines shall be liable for punitive actions as notified in clause 5 of the UGC notification refund of fees and non-retention of original certificate issued in October 2008,” read the report.