My 4 year battle has been for students wronged by colleges: Mahavir Chopda

Mahavir Chopda, 28, took admission in Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) on March 19, 2006, paying the entire fee amount of Rs1,36,650 at one go. Later, he withdrew his admission “on account of personal difficulties” on August 2, 2006, and sought refund of the fee. The NMIMS cancelled his admission and refunded him a paltry Rs1,000.

It kicked off a four-year-long battle between Chopda and the management school. Chopda was determined to get justice, and justice he got last week when the Bandra consumer disputes redressal forum ruled that NMIMS will have refund him Rs1,17,080. 

Chopda, who was working as a software developer when the case began, took leave from his job to argue his case. He moved the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi to seek information through RTI from NMIMS.

“I tried teaming up with like-minded students in this legal battle. But they would say, ‘Who will go to the courts’ — as if courts are meant for aliens. So, I had to fight it alone,” Chopda said.

He alleged that private management institutions follow their own examination and admission schedules which often work against the interest of students. NMIMS, for instance, made him pay the fees in March 2006, even though the course Chopda enrolled for was to begin in July.

“People end up paying to secure seats. The students are the losers. The Union human resources development ministry should consider streamlining admission processes for these colleges,” Chopda said.

Failing to get any response from NMIMS for the full refund of his fees, Chopda filed an RTI application seeking details of admissions from 2005 to 2008. The institute refused to part with the information, and Chopda moved the CIC.

He decided to move the consumer forum in 2008. The NMIMS advocate argued that the institute was not a service provider as per the law. Besides, Chopda’s withdrawal from the course resulted in one seat remaining vacant.

Meanwhile, the CIC ruled in favour of Chopda in March 2009, and directed the institute to reply to his queries. NMIMS had to reveal that it did fill up the seat vacated by Chopda. It also admitted that it had retained Rs27,87,800 from students who cancelled admissions in 2006.

The consumer forum ordered NMIMS to refund Rs1,17,080 with
12% interest from August 14, 2006, and pay Chopda Rs2,000 by way of costs. Chopda, however, is not happy and might move the state commission.

Chopda said he decided to fight the case for the sake of others similarly wronged. “I thought of this case as one between a student and a high-handed university. If any student has a similar issue, I am willing to help,” he said.