Gora Academy of Education, & Anr. vs C. Vani, & Ors.

Petitioners are aggrieved by the order of the Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission dismissing their appeal and affirming the order of the District Forum.

There are four respondents who were complainants before the District Forum. Three are the daughters and fourth is their father. Their complaint was that G.V. Reddy, second petitioner represented that he was running the first petitioner which was a recognised institution by the Government of Andhra Pradesh for providing material and conducting courses for the students to appear for professional courses including B.Ed. Second petitioner represented to Venkateswarlu, father of the three girls-respondents that he could give necessary guidance, study material and other help for the girls to appear in these examinations in the States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bihar through recognised colleges and universities and that he could provide coaching and institutional help for the girls to secure B.Ed. degree. In fact second petitioner assured that he would prepare the girls to appear for B.Ed. from the recognised colleges in the State of Bihar. He was paid various amounts towards fees and also towards expenses for train tickets from Hyderabad to Bihar and return. It was all false assurances given by the second petitioner. There was no recognised college and University in the State of Bihar for awarding degree of B.Ed. In fact, second petitioner took the girls to Bihar but then brought them back on the plea that examinations had been postponed. The respondents rather have alleged the second petitioner did not in fact take the girls to any college for the purpose of writing the examination and he just roamed about place to place. The name and particulars of any college or the dates on which the examinations were to take place were not disclosed.

When the respondents demanded refund of the money, second petitioner gave them three fake B.Ed. course certificates dated 12.7.1993, 16.7.1994 and 16.7.1995 when he had taken the money towards fee only in the year 1998. Respondents questioned the second petitioner as to how he could procure degrees for the girls without their appearing for the examination. On this it is stated second petitioner promised to return the amounts received from the respondents. But then went back on his admission. This led the respondents to file complaint with the District Forum.

Evidence was led before the District Forum which after considering the whole matter held that there was deficiency in service and adoption of unfair trade practice by the petitioners. They were, therefore, directed to pay to the respondents Rs. 67,500 with interest @ 18% per annum from 18.7.1998 till payment. District Forum also awarded compensation for mental agony, harassment caused to the three girls amount to Rs. 20,000. Rs. 1,000 was also awarded as costs.

Against this order petitioners went in appeal to the State Commission which again examined the whole aspect of the matter and also concluded that not only money was collected from the respondents on false assurances, furnishing of false and bogus certificates was yet another instance of deficiency in service. State Commission upheld the order of the District Forum and dismissed the appeal.

Aggrieved, now petitioners have come to this Commission. We have not been shown any circumstances as to how the finding arrived at either by the District Forum or by the State Commission is erroneous in any way. There is nothing on record to show that there was any University or college which could grant degree of B.Ed. to the students. It is quite clear where the petitioners have fleeced respondents by making false assurances and then even going to the extent of handing over to them fabricated B.Ed. certificates. There is no merit in this revision petition. It is dismissed. R.P. dismissed.