ILS Law College Directed to Refund Over Rs1 Lakh with Interest for Illegal Fee Collection
The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) in Maharashtra has issued a firm directive to Pune-based ILS Law College, ordering the institution to refund Rs1.04 lakh to a student along with 6% interest. The order states that this amount was collected "illegally and in a non-transparent manner" under fee heads that lacked proper approval.
Details of the Unapproved Fee Collection
In a letter dated April 13, the directorate informed the college that the money collected from petitioner Mayur Garud during the academic years from 2020–21 to 2024–25 as "other fees" did not have the necessary approvals. The directorate emphasized that the recovery was conducted without transparency, violating established regulations.
The directive mandates that ILS Law College complete the refund, including the 6% interest, and submit a compliance report to the state government. This report will subsequently be presented before the Bombay High Court, underscoring the legal gravity of the matter.
Background and Inquiry Process
This action follows a court-ordered inquiry initiated after the Bombay High Court, in its February 12 order, instructed the state to examine Garud's complaint filed on April 11, 2025, and reach a decision within two months.
Ashok Ubale, Joint Director of the Higher Education Directorate, provided detailed insights into the investigation. "A thorough inquiry by a three-member DHE committee revealed that the fees charged were not approved under Section 101(7) of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016," Ubale stated. "Consequently, the college is required to return the amount to the student from the date of payment until the actual refund, with 6% interest."
The issue first came to light through an RTI response dated February 17, 2025, which prompted representations to the authorities. Based on these findings, the DHE constituted an inquiry committee on March 7, 2026. This committee conducted hearings involving both the college and the petitioner, culminating in a report submitted on March 30 and forwarded to the DHE, Pune, on April 1.
Findings of the Inquiry Committee
The inquiry uncovered significant irregularities in the fee structure at ILS Law College. "The investigation found that the college introduced 17 to 19 additional fee heads under the category of 'other fees', exceeding the limited structure permitted by law," Ubale explained. "Students were charged between Rs 34,000 and Rs 42,000 annually under these unauthorized heads."
Furthermore, the report noted that fee receipts initially displayed approved components but later included extra entries under vague descriptions such as "other activities", all without approval from the university or state government.
Student Response and Broader Implications
In response to the DHE report, petitioner Mayur Garud expressed relief and highlighted the wider implications. "The inquiry confirms that these fees were not approved," Garud said. "This is not an isolated case affecting just one student. Others who have paid similar amounts should also be considered for refunds. The matter concerns the rights of numerous students and the integrity of the education system. These findings validate the concerns raised and represent a crucial step toward accountability and systemic reform."
Efforts to reach Deepa Paturkar, the principal in-charge of ILS Law College, for comment were unsuccessful. Phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp messages remained unanswered until the time of reporting on Monday.
This case underscores ongoing issues in fee regulation within higher education institutions and sets a precedent for enforcing transparency and legal compliance in student fee collections.
