'Indore Coaching Institute Charged My Son Rs 60,000 for Just 3 Days of Classes'

During the admission process at Catalyser, we informed them that my son had a backlog in Class 11 topics. The coaching institute, in turn, assured us they would cover the Class 11 syllabus alongside the Class 12 curriculum. However, when classes began in March 2024, the institute started with the Class 12 curriculum instead of addressing the backlogs first.

(Illustration made using AI by The Quint/Vibhushita Singh)

Like every parent, I want my 18-year-old son to do well in life.

In November 2023, while he was in Class 11, I enrolled him in a coaching institute in Indore to prepare for the JEE exam and secure admission to a top engineering college.

Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh, has seen a rise in private coaching institutes over the past decade. So, sending him from Khandwa, where he went to school, to Catalyser Coaching Institute in Indore seemed like a reasonable choice.

During the admission process at Catalyser, we informed them that my son had a backlog in Class 11 topics. The coaching institute, in turn, assured us they would cover the Class 11 syllabus alongside the Class 12 curriculum.

However, when classes began in March 2024, the institute started with the Class 12 curriculum instead of addressing the backlogs first. As a result, my son struggled to keep up with the Class 12 syllabus while still dealing with the Class 11 backlogs.

'My Son Wanted to Withdraw Admission After 3 Days of Classes'

Within three days of classes, my son told me that he couldn't continue at Catalyser and asked me to withdraw his admission.

He felt that without first completing the backlogs, he wouldn't be able to keep up with the new syllabus.

At the time of admission to the coaching Institute, I paid Rs 1.7 lakh in installments between November and December 2023. Despite paying the full fee in advance, the institute charged me Rs 60,000 for my son's classes from 14 March to 16 March – and returned only Rs 1,09,600.

Is it fair to pay Rs 60,000 for just three days of classes, especially when the decision to withdraw was due to their failure to keep their promise?

Despite my repeated emails to the institute, they were reluctant to return the remaining fee, leaving us with no option but to seek legal remedy.

In July 2024, we approached the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission in Khandwa and registered a case against the coaching institute. After months-long legal battle, on 7 December 2024, the consumer forum passed an order in our favour.

Copy of the order passed by District Consumer Redressal Commission, Khandwa.

(Accessed by The Quint)

However, this victory came at a significant emotional and financial cost.

'What Happens to Other Students?'

As of today, the consumer forum has directed the coaching institute to refund Rs 1,68,000 within 45 days, failing which the institute will be required to pay a fine at the rate of 9 percent per annum until the payment is made. We are still awaiting the refund – and I hope they will honour the court's order.

However, my experience raises a critical question: What happens to students and families who lack the resources or knowledge to navigate such legal challenges? 

Unethical practices and mismanagement by coaching institutes are alarmingly common as they exploit vulnerable students and their families trying to secure their future. This reflects not only the failure of certain institutes but also systemic inefficiencies in regulating higher education in India.

By sharing my story, I want to raise awareness and empower students to demand for their rights as well as advocate for stricter law enforcement to protect students.

Coaching Institute's Response To The Quint

The Quint reached out to Catalyser Coaching Institute in Indore regarding the issue and the status of the refund following the consumer forum's order.

In a written statement to The Quint, the institute stated,

"We are fully compliant, and the refund, in accordance with the judgment, has already been issued and is in the process of being submitted to the honourable court within the stipulated timelines."

Addressing the matter of fee deduction, the institute explained, "The deduction of Rs 60,400 from the total fee of Rs 1.7 lakh reflects the cost of services already provided, including online resources, administrative expenses, and classroom preparation efforts. These details have been submitted to the court for consideration."

The institute further added, "The student joined the coaching programme midway through the session, having skipped the foundational Class 11 syllabus," to which the student claimed that he had "not enrolled in the Class 11 course but had specifically opted for a one-year coaching programme for Class 12".

On the subject of resource utilisation, the institute mentioned that the student had been "provided access to online study materials, series, and other digital resources for six months." In response, the student contended that the institute failed to substantiate this claim in court.

Hradayesh Bajpai is a practising lawyer based out of Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.

(All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint enquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)