The complaint filed by the two final-year students sheds light on serious issues of financial exploitation and lack of transparency in the fee collection process at ILS College
Pune: Two final-year students from the Indian Law Society (ILS) College, Pune, have approached the Charity Commissioner and filed a complaint with the Directorate of Higher Technical Education (DHTE) against the college, accusing it of financial exploitation and not being transparent in fee collection.
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The students, Mayur Suhas Garud and Krushnakant Subhash Sathe, have lodged complaints against the principal of ILS, its secretary, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Bar Council of India, DHTE, University Grant Commission (UGC), and the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department of Maharashtra.
The complaint has been filed under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, demanding a thorough inquiry into the matter, removal of trustees, and recovery of misused funds. The students allege financial mismanagement and exploitation, claiming that the college has charged students excessively without proper justification.
Garud, in an effort to seek transparency, filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The documents he received exposed disturbing patterns of systematic overcharging and exploitative practices in the college’s fee collection. The findings highlighted a serious lack of fairness and ethical financial management in the institution.
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Garud shared,
“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.”
He further added, “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.”
Garud pointed out serious discrepancies in the collection of funds for various purposes.
He stated, “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.”
These figures suggest that significant funds were collected from students for services that were either not provided or not used appropriately, indicating a lack of transparency in fund management.
In addition to the funds collected from students, ILS Law College also generates considerable revenue from renting out its sports ground, gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis court, and parking facilities to private companies, sports academies, and external organizations. These facilities, which are primarily meant for student use, are often leased out to outsiders for profit.
Despite earning substantial revenue from these commercial ventures, the college continues to charge students for the use of these same facilities, such as Gymnasium Fees, Sports Fees, Swimming Pool Charges, and other miscellaneous fees. However, students often face difficulty in accessing these facilities, as they are frequently used by external parties.
Garud raised concerns, saying, “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.”
Misleading Fee Collection During the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the suspension of physical classes and activities, the college continued to charge students for services that were not being provided. These included fees for activities like 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), even though these services were unavailable due to the lockdown.
Garud further commented, “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 an inquiry into the financial affairs,” he added.
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College Principal Denies Allegations
When contacted, Deepa Paturkar, the principal of ILS College, denied the allegations, calling them baseless.
She 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.”
