In a shocking expose, students and alumni of ILS Law College in Pune have come forward with allegations of a massive fee scam. According to the complainants, the college has been overcharging students for various fees and mismanaging the funds collected. During a press conference held at Patrakar Bhavan, the students accused the college of lack of transparency and urged government authorities to intervene.
RTI data has revealed that in the academic year 2020-21, the college collected large sums of money under different fee heads but only a small portion of it was actually used for the intended purposes. For example, a staggering amount was collected as Legal Aid Fee, but only a tiny fraction of it was spent on providing legal aid to students. Similar discrepancies were found in the utilization of funds collected under other heads such as Electronic Resources Fee.
Students have also alleged that many facilities for which they were charged do not actually exist or were not provided to them. Despite paying for services like legal aid, moot court, cultural activities, physical fitness, and e-learning resources, the students claim that they did not receive adequate services in return.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, students were reportedly charged for facilities that were not operational, such as the gym, sports grounds, moot courts, and cultural activities. This has raised concerns among the students about the transparency and fairness of the fee structure at ILS Law College.
Furthermore, students have accused the college of double charging by collecting fees for facilities that are then rented out to external parties, preventing students from accessing them. This practice, according to an ILS alumnus, is not only unethical but also amounts to financial exploitation of the students.
In response to these allegations, the students and alumni have filed an official complaint with the Directorate of Higher Education in Maharashtra, demanding a government-led inquiry into the college’s financial records, refund of excess fees collected, penalties for those responsible for financial irregularities, and transparency in future fee structures.
Despite the serious accusations, the principal of ILS Law College, Dr. Deepa Paturkar, has not responded to requests for comment on the issue. However, sources suggest that the college may justify its financial policies by citing operational costs and infrastructural development.
The Directorate of Higher Education in Pune has acknowledged the receipt of the complaint and is expected to launch an investigation into the matter. The students and alumni are hopeful that their concerns will be addressed and that necessary actions will be taken to ensure fairness and transparency in the college’s fee structure.
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