Two final-year students of the Indian Law Society (ILS) College have moved a petition before the Charity Commissioner and filed a complaint with the Directorate of Higher Technical Education (DHTE) against the college alleging financial exploitation and lack of transparency in fee collection.
Mayur Suhas Garud and Krushnakant Subhash Sathe have moved a complaint against the principal of ILS, its secretary, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Bar Council of India, DHTE, University Grant Commission and Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Maharashtra. The complaint is moved under the relevant sections of Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, seeking a detailed inquiry, removal of trustees, and recovery of misused funds.
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In pursuit of transparency and accountability, Garud moved an application under Right to Information (RTI). The information received unveiled a disturbing pattern of systematic overcharging and exploitative practices directed toward the students under the guise of fee collection. The findings indicated a flagrant disregard for the principles of fairness and ethical financial management in the institution’s operations.
Speaking to Pune Times Mirror, Garud said, “Initially, we approached the principal of the college, soliciting copies of all circulars, notifications, and pertinent documents issued by SPPU, UGC, and the Government of Maharashtra that delineate the legal basis for the imposition of such fees. Despite repeated requests, neither the principal nor any designated authority of the college provided any documentation that substantiates or justifies the current fee structure.
“The present complaint is instituted in the interest of the public to bring to light and remedy the pervasive issues of financial mismanagement and the exploitation of students perpetrated by the college.
“It is pertinent to note that the college operates via trust as a registered public trust under the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. A total of Rs 78,30,565 was collected for electronic resources in 2019-20 with only Rs 54,021 spent. Under Legal Aid, Rs 17,51,535 was collected with only Rs 10,105 spent in 2020-21.”
Additional revenue from commercial activities:
Apart from the excessive collection of fees from students, ILS Law College generates substantial revenue from commercial activities, including the rental of its sports ground, gymnasium space, swimming pool, tennis court, and parking facilities to private organizations, sports academies, and external users. These facilities, which are primarily intended for the use of students, are often leased out to third parties, resulting in additional income for the college.
The college collects parking fees from visitors and engages in other revenue-generating activities on campus. Despite earning significant revenue from these commercial sources, students are still charged fees for the same facilities under various heads, including Gymnasium Fees, Sports Fees, Swimming Pool Charges, and other miscellaneous fees. However, students are often unable to access these facilities due to their unavailability and overuse by outsiders.
This practice of double charging – first from students and then from external users – raises serious concerns about the ethical and financial accountability of the institution. The fact that students are denied access to facilities for which they have paid, while outsiders are allowed to use them for a fee, constitutes a clear breach of trust and a failure to provide the services for which students have paid.
Garud added, “Despite the campus closure and suspension of physical activities and in-person academics due to the COVID-19 pandemic in academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22 they continued to charge students for services that were not operational. This included fees for Games, Recreation (Rs 2,200), Gymnasium (Rs 2,750), Legal Aid (Rs 1,100), Moot Court (Rs 3,850), and Cultural Activities (Rs 2,585), among others.
“This practice effectively converted these fee collections into unearned profits, as no corresponding expenditure was incurred for maintaining or operating these facilities during the lockdown. We have prayed and demanded a special audit of the trust fund along with inquiry into the financial affairs.”
When contacted, Deepa Paturkar, principal of ILS College, refuted the claim and said, “This is to malign our image; it is all fabricated. We are not aware of the complaint that is moved against us. Once we get to know the facts, we will be able to comment.”
