Consumer court fines Rs.4.40 lac to coaching class for misleading student

Chate taught Rs.4.40 lacs lesson

Consumer court fines coaching class for misleading student to believe his course is govt-recognised

Aakiv Solomen Rohekar waited for a year to get admitted to the Diploma in International Shipping Management (DISM) course being offered by Chate coaching classes. However, all he learnt in two years thereafter was that he needed to take on Chate for not just having misled him about his diploma being government recognised, but for also not imparting the promised education and training. Rohekar and his parents approached the Central Mumbai Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum on March 15 and demanded that the money they spent in vain for their son's future on Chate's diploma course be reimbursed. Partly allowing their plea, president of the forum Nalin Majithia and member Bhavna Pisal ordered Machindra H Chate to pay Rohekar Rs3,75,550 as the fees for the diploma, along with Rs11,750 rupees spent by him in Cochin during the course, as well Rs50,000 for the wasted academic year amounting to physical and mental harassment. Chate has also been asked to pay Rs5,000 rupees as the cost of the complaint. The forum passed an ex-parte order recently after a notice to Chate returned as 'not claimed' to the forum. According to Rohekar's complaint, though he was sent to Cochin for the DISM course, it was not up to the mark. Therefore, he demanded that Chate return the money paid for the course. However, the student had to approach the consumer forum after Chate's refusal to reimburse the fees. The forum also observed that while Chate claimed that the course was affiliated to Bharat Sevak Samaj's National Development Agency promoted by the government of India, it has been proved that the course is not recognised by the government. Therefore, the forum further stated that there were no grounds which permitted Chate to use the national emblem with Satyameva Jayate written under it on the study material provided to students, thereby misleading them as well as their parents. The order further elaborates on how it has been confirmed by the various departments concerned that none of Chate's marine courses are recognised by the government.