College defying state fee order?

Reply to RTI application filed by suspended student reveals ILS Law College ignoring directive to refund fees collected from SC students

IN yet another twist to the ongoing battle between ILS Law College and suspended student Siddharth Sharma over the charging of fees from SC students, a reply to an RTI application shows the college was asked to return fees by the social welfare department but did not do so.

The reply was received by Sharma, whose fight with the institution began a year ago when an RTI application filed by him led to the revelation that although SC students were not to be charged any fees as directed by the state government, the ILS Law College seemed to be ignoring this directive.

Since then the matter has been pending in the high court. A separate inquiry is also on at the University of Pune.

In the latest development, a letter issued by the social welfare department of the state government on September 18 (a copy of it is available with MiD DAY) states that ILS Law College should not take any more fees from SC students and should refund the Rs 9,758 charged as fees to each SC student.

Sharma alleged that despite the state government order, the college was yet to refund the fees.

"The court has also dismissed their petition where they had asked the University of Pune inquiry to be stopped. Hence, the university is now free to take action against them, which they should," said Sharma.

On Thursday, the university held a hearing in the case that was attended by the college principal, the rector and Sharma.