The judge concluded the hearing by asking the students and the instituteas Executive Director Ajit Kumar Oberoi to attempt an out-of-court settlement, failing which the case will be heard again on May 5, 2009.

As reported by PaGaLGuY earlier, students of DINAas Pune University-affiliated PGDBM course had filed a complaint of cheating and forgery against the institute, accusing them of misrepresenting the course as a fulltime course. In parallel, the Pune University had set up a committee to examine the disproportionately high fees charged by the institute for the course.

PaGaLGuY had also reported that the PGDBM course itself was not an MBA-equivalent course as was claimed by DINA.

During Wednesdayas hearing, DINAas lawyer Rajendra Sorankar pleaded that the institute has approached the Shikshan Shulk Samiti (the Maharashtra Government body appointed to regulate fees in Medical, Higher and Technical education) for determining the fees the institute can charge for the Pune University-affiliated PGDBM program.

The judge however replied saying, aThe institute must return some portion of the fee charged as the students have not been provided with the infrastructure and facilities promised to them at the time of admissions in 2007.a

Shekhar A Ingwale, the lawyer representing the students presented a Pune University letter (Ref No: CA 847 dated March 12, 2009) addressed to the state police which stated that the maximum fee which can be charged for the PGDBM program was Rs 50,000. Hearing this, the judge said, aThe excess amount of Rs 1.75 lakh should be kept in a fixed deposit account till the Shikshan Shulk Samiti makes a decision.a

Ingawale then presented a letter obtained from the University of Pune (Ref No CA/1523 dated April 17, 2009) addressed to a DINA student which stated that the PGDBM course affiliated to the University (and offered by DINA) was not an MBA equivalent course. He also provided DINA admissions materials which specify the PGDBM program as an MBA equivalent course. After studying the evidence provided, Justice Bhosale said, aWhy did the institute misrepresent the PGDBM course? The entire course fee must be refunded.a

“Students had taken admission in DINAas PGDBM program because it was claimed to be a Pune University affiliated MBA equivalent program,”
the judge added.

DINA representatives suggested that a certificate declaring the PGDBM course as not equivalent to MBA would not help students in any manner. Judge Bhosale concluded the hearing by saying, “I would prefer it if students concentrated on their studies and careers and did not come in large numbers for court hearings. They should not be focused on putting another person behind bars. The two parties must discuss and see if they can arrive at a solution. If that is not possible, there will be a court hearing on May 5, 2009.”