Recently, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has made it clear that educational institutions, except coaching institutes, will not fall under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.
It has made clear that any deficiency in the services of the coaching institutes will fall under the jurisdiction of NCDRC as these institutes cannot be equated to regular schools and colleges.
"Coaching centers cannot be equated to regular schools or colleges which are regulated by a Regulatory Authority... therefore, strictly speaking, coaching centers cannot fall within the definition of educational institutions. We are of the opinion that any defect or deficiency or unfair trade practice pertaining to a service provider like coaching centers does fall within the jurisdiction of the consumer fora," it said.
The observation cam after some students filed petitions against different universities, colleges and educational institutes and the tribunal dismissed the petitions.
"It is clarified that even if there is any defect in services offered by private bodies in offering these courses ... do fall within the ambit of definition of educational institutions and hence the consumer fora have no jurisdiction to entertain the same," NCDRC bench of President R K Agrawal and members V K Jain and M Sreesha said.
Tags: Ncdrc
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
Coaching Institutes
Coaching Institutes Under Ncdrc
