Madurai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has awarded an ex-parte judgement directing Madurai Kamaraj University to pay a compensation of ₹ 50,000 and refund the fees to Prakash Pandurang Kate of Mumbai who was denied the right to pursue Ph.D. in part-time category despite his eligibility.
The complainant an M.Phil scholar from MKU had applied for Ph.D in 2014 and got admitted in 2015. After paying all required fees, when he approached the Deputy Registrar, Research Department, seeking the joining report, he was denied it on the contention that he was eligible only for full-time Ph. D research and not part-time.
Even the complainant’s argument that Section 5.1.3 of Ph. D regulations allowed an M. Phil degree holder to undergo part-time Ph.D course was not entertained. He was told that under new regulations, conversion from full time to part time had to be permitted by the VC. However, this turned out to be false when the complainant made an enquiry under the Right to Information Act.
After the university officials failed to respond to his repeated queries and did not return his original certificates, he approached the forum seeking compensation, refund and legal cost.
The president of the forum, V. Balasundarakumar, and members, C. Packialakshmi and M. Maraikamalai, in their order on October 10, said that the university failed to reply to the forum’s notice.
It also found that the complainant had the right to pursue part-time course and ordered the MKU to pay the compensation for his mental agony and academic loss. Besides, it directed the MKU to refund the entire fees and imposed a cost of ₹ 5,000 for deficiency of service.
