SIC asks DIoS to take stern action against institution

LUCKNOW: A student running from pillar to post for the past three years, seeking action against a private educational institution for charging extra fee for Bachelor of Education course has got reprieve from the state information commission.

The tough stand taken by the state infor mation commissioner on extra fee being charged for the course by Dwarikadheesh Research Education and Management School, Saharanpur, has compelled the district inspector of school (DIoS) to take note of the issue.

Acting on the RTI application of Padam Saini of Saharanpur, related with charging of extra Rs 20,000 fee by the institution, state information commissioner Hafiz Usman last week instructed DIoS Brajpal Singh to take appropriate action against the educational institution.

It may be pointed out that an educational institution can hike fees of courses being run by it only after approval of the university with which it is affiliated.

Saini had pursued B Ed from the Dwarikadheesh Research Education and Management School in the academic session 2010-11. He was compelled to pay Rs 20,000 extra apart from the prescribed fee of Rs 30,359 by the institution. For this extra fee, the institute did not issue any receipt.

After completion of the course on July 23, 2013, Saini gave a written complaint to the DIoS against the educational institution.

However, he did not get any response from the DIoS office and even his RTI application went in vain. After almost three years, Saini filed an RTI application with the office of state information commission in December 2015. Usman issued a notice to the DIoS, Saharanpur, directing him to appear in person before the information commission.

On April 22 this year, DIoS Brajpal Singh, appeared before the state information commissioner.

During hearing of the case, the DIoS apprised the state information commissioner that the Dwarikadheesh Research Education and Management School had charged extra Rs 20,000 from Saini.

This fee was in addition to the regular fee paid by the student, he added. During the probe it also came to light that the educational institution had fleeced many B Ed students by charging extra fee. “I have directed the DIoS to take stern action against the institution for charging extra fee for the BED course from a student,” said Usman.