By IANS
New Delhi : Management and engineering institutions would not be able to confiscate fees if an applicant decides to opt out to join another college for better career prospects, a regulatory body said here Thursday.
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) said in a public notice that institutions would have to refund the entire fee, after a deduction of processing charge of not more than Rs.1,000, in case the student withdraws before the beginning of the programme.
There were several complaints that the management institutions were not refunding money if students opt for another institution.
Taking a serious view of these institutes’ malpractice of confiscating original school-leaving certificate of students, the AICTE said: “It would not be permissible for institutions and universities to retain the school and institution leaving certificate in original.”
The AICTE regulates institutions imparting education in the field of pharmacy, management, computer application besides architecture and engineering.
The AICTE has also made clear that if a student left a college after the programme started, the institution would be required to return the fee after proportionate deductions of monthly fee and hostel rent.