The University Grants Commission (UGC) will soon issue a notification directing the higher educational institutions to return the documents to the students immediately after admissions except for the migration certificates.
Also, other original documents should be returned to the students after their verification by authorities.
Human Resource development Minister Prakash Javadekar informed today that the UGC will take action against the colleges and universities which fail to refund the fees to the students, who opt for admission in other institutions.
The Higher Education Institutions can charge fees in advance only for the semester in which a student wants to engage in academic activities. Collecting advance fees for the entire program of study is strictly prohibited, he said.
Giving details about the UGC notification, the Minister said, the institute will be required to refund the fees in case a student withdraws from the programme, i.e. 100 per cent in case a student decides to withdraw 15 days or more before the formally notified last date of admission.
Not more than five per cent of the fees paid by the students, subject to a maximum of five thousand rupees will be deducted as processing charges. He said, 90 per cent of fees should be refunded in case a student decides withdraw within 15 days after the last date of admission, 80 per cent in case a student wants to withdraw within 15 days after the last date of admission, 50 per cent in case a student decides to withdraw before 16 days and 30 days after the last date of admission.
The Minister said the entire caution money and security deposit, which are not part of the fees chargeable, shall be refunded in full. No student will be required to submit any original academic and personal certificates like marksheets, school leaving certificates at the time of submission of admission form, Javedkar added.
