The Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) and the Indian School of Business and Economy (ISBE) have been directed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum to pay Rs 1 lakh compensation each to five students. IIPM and ISBE also have to refund the course fee of Rs 23,65,370 that the students had paid.

A report in Deccan Chronicle states that the five students - Shivaraj Ashok, Muddassir Jawed, Mary Priya, Sajid Khan Khazi, Pradip Singh Chauhan – had joined ISBE for an MBA approved by Gulbarga University. After the first semester, they were informed the ISBE would conduct its own exam and the fourth semester exams would be held by Gulbarga University.

When the students filed an RTI on this matter, Gulbarga University authorities informed them that ISBE had only filed an application for approval of the course and this was still pending as ISBE had not followed up. The report adds that ISBE denied the charges and said that IIPM also gives full disclosure.

However, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has asked the institute to refund the entire course fee and pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to each student for wasting their two academic years.