Saveetha Law School directed to refund fees

Disposing a batch of petitions moved by students and parents, Justice S Vaidyanathan said the students who joined the course after the Delhi High Court order dated May 30, 2017 would be entitled to full refund of fees, as there was no evidence before the court to show when the court order was uploaded in the web portal.

Also, citing a communication sent to a student on July 24, 2017, informing about the allotment of seat, the judge said that the university did not comply with the interim order while issuing the allotment order. “Even though the said order has been subsequently modified on April 26, 2018, on the date of admission of that student on July 24, 2017, the interim of the order has been in force,” noted the court.

“Strictly speaking, it would amount to contempt of court, which fact has got to be agitated only before the Delhi HC where the matter is pending,” Justice Vaidyanathan added.

Further, holding that Saveetha University cannot take shelter that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has approved the course and that the students were not entitled to refund of fees, the judge added: “Though this is a fit case for imposing heavy costs on Saveetha University, payable to students who have joined after the interim order of the Delhi HC, this court refrains from doing it for the present, and if any issue is taken by the students or parents before the appropriate court, it is for the court to consider the plea of the students/parents.”