Gujarat Private Universities Fail to Refund Over ₹1.30 Crore to 119 Students Despite UGC Directives

More than ₹1.30 crore in fees owed to 119 students remains unrefunded by private universities in Gujarat, despite repeated directives from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to comply with its fee refund policy.

The UGC's state-wise records identify more than 20 higher education institutions and universities in Gujarat against which complaints have been filed over non-refund of fees following admission cancellations. The list includes several private universities, as well as central, national-level and state-run institutions.

The issue dates back to the UGC's fee refund guidelines, introduced after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted academic schedules and extended admission timelines. Under the policy formalised in 2022, universities are required to refund fees when students cancel their admissions within the prescribed period.

Despite repeated circulars, notices and directions, several institutions have allegedly failed to return the fees. The UGC has now written to the Secretaries to the Governors of various states, seeking their intervention over the continued non-compliance by universities.

Karnavati University Accounts for Largest Share of Gujarat Complaints

Among Gujarat's institutions, Karnavati University has received the highest number of complaints over pending fee refunds, according to the UGC records cited in the report.

Between 60% and 70% of the complaints from students in Gujarat are reportedly directed against the university. It also accounts for the largest outstanding amount among the institutions listed, with refunds running into lakhs of rupees remaining pending over the past four years.

Other private universities named in complaints include Marwadi University, Nirma University, IIT-RAM in Ahmedabad and ITM-Baroda University.

The list also features the University of Advanced Research, Noble University, Uka Tarsadia University, Bhagwan Mahavir University and Ganpat University.

Students enrolled in vocational and technical programmes affiliated with the UGC or the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) at these institutions have also reportedly faced delays in receiving refunds.

UGC Seeks Governors' Intervention After Repeated Notices

The UGC stated that it had issued multiple circulars on fee refunds in 2020 and 2021 before formalising the policy in 2022. Under the guidelines, universities must refund fees when students withdraw their admissions within the stipulated timeframe.

However, the commission continued to receive complaints from students across the country, including Gujarat, alleging that institutions had withheld their fees. The UGC subsequently issued notices and directions to the universities concerned, but several institutions allegedly failed to comply.

Following the continued complaints and non-compliance, the commission wrote to the Secretaries to the Governors of different states, requesting intervention against institutions that had not processed the refunds.

The UGC has published separate lists identifying students who complained about pending refunds and the universities against which complaints were registered. The university-wise list puts the total outstanding amount at more than ₹1.5 crore nationally, while the Gujarat institutions identified in the report account for over ₹1.30 crore owed to 119 students.

Central and National-Level Institutions Also Named

The complaints are not limited to private universities. The UGC's Gujarat list also includes several central and national-level institutions, including Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gati Shakti University, Central University of Gujarat, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) and Rashtriya Raksha University.

Two to three state-run public universities have also reportedly faced complaints over fee refunds.

More than 20 institutions from Gujarat feature in the UGC's state-wise list, with private universities and institutes accounting for the majority of those named.

PG Medical Admissions: Vacant Seats Rise Despite 25% Increase in Merit List

Meanwhile, Gujarat's first round of postgraduate medical admissions has recorded an increase in vacant seats despite a significant rise in the number of candidates seeking admission.

The number of candidates on the merit list for MD, MS and diploma courses under the Gujarat State Quota increased by around 25% this year, reaching 6,094 compared with 4,829 last year.

Of the 6,094 candidates, 5,847 participated in the first round by submitting their choices through the centralised online admission process. However, only 2,329 candidates were allotted seats, leaving 359 seats vacant out of the 2,688 available under the State Quota.

The number of vacant seats was higher than last year's 254 vacancies after the first round of allotment, indicating that the increase in the number of candidates on the merit list has not translated into a corresponding rise in admissions.