The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) on Saturday said that it has refunds amounting to ₹1.56 crore for over 600 aspirants and students in the education sector. These students, enrolled in coaching centres for Civil Services, Engineering Courses and other programmes, were earlier denied rightful refunds despite following the terms and conditions set by the coaching institutes, it said in a statement.
The students filed their complaints with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), which facilitated a streamlined process for dispute resolution.
“The swift action by the Department has helped students receive compensation for unfulfilled services, late classes, or cancelled courses, ensuring they do not bear the financial burden of unfair business practices,” it said in a statement.
It has also directed all coaching centres to adopt a student-centric approach and has mandated clear, transparent refund policies to protect student’s financial interests. It has also stated that coaching institutes cannot deny legitimate refund claims and urged them to uphold consumer rights.
“By resolving grievances at the pre-litigation stage, NCH has helped prevent the escalation of disputes, offering an effective and accessible alternative to formal legal proceedings. This service has proven especially beneficial for students, who now have a dependable avenue to safeguard their interests,” it added.
