Date of Filing :30-05-2014
Date of Disposal: 25-02-2015
BEFORE THE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM:NELLORE
Wednesday, this the 25th day of February, 2015
PRESENT: Sri P.V. Krishna Murthy, B.A., B.L., President
Sri M. Subbarayudu Naidu, Member.
C.C.No.39/2014
Narravula Koteswara Rao, S/o.N.Krisnnama Naidu,
Kammapalli Village, Dakkili Mandal, S.P.S.R.Nellore District. ..… Complainant
Vs.
Sri Venkateswara University, Represented by it’s Controller of Examinations, Tirupati, Chittoor District. ..…Opposite party |
.
This complaint coming on 12-02-2015 before us for hearing in the presence of Sri Penubaku Venu, advocate for the complainant and Sri A.V. Murali Krishna, advocate for the opposite party and having stood over for consideration till this day and this Forum made the following:
ORDER
(ORDER BY Sri P.V. KRISHNA MURTHY, PRESIDENT)
The brief averments of the complaint are as follows:
The complainant studied B.Com., in Government College, Venkatagiri during 2005-08 through open university. The opposite party issued provisional certificate / marks memorandum on 09-06-2008. The complainant joined M.B.A. in Periyar University and completed the course also. The complainant applied for convocation certificate in the year 2010 and paid Rs.250/-. Later complainant paid Rs.500/- in S.B.I., University Campus on 29-09-2011. The complainant handedover original inter marks memo to the opposite party with an application. However, the convocation certificate was not issued. The complainant suffered loss and injury. The complainant got issued a legal notice. The opposite party committed a deficiency of service in not issuing convocation certificate. Hence, the complaint for issuance of convocation certificate, return of the original intermediate certificates, compensation and costs.
2. The brief averments of the written version of the opposite party are as follows:
The complaint is not maintainable. The allegations made in the complaint are not correct. The complainant is not a consumer. The S.V. university shall be sued in the name of the registrar and not the controller of examinations. The complaint is liable to be dismissed on this ground. The complainant studied B.Com., during 2005-08 through S.V. University. The opposite party issued a provisional certificate but took it away as the complainant has not appeared for a practical examination in the third year. The complainant suppressed the same. The marks list clearly shows the same. The course is not complete without appearing for the above practical examination. The complainant without appearing for the practical examination applied for the convocation certificate and the same was rejected. The complainant promised to complete the course but has not done so. There is no deficiency of service as the course was not completed and the application was rejected on valid grounds. The same was mentioned in the reply notice. There is no cause of action. The original marks list of intermediate is with the opposite party, since the complainant promised to complete the practical examination. This opposite party is ready to return the same. Hence, the complaint may be dismissed.
3. Now the point for consideration is “whether the opposite party committed a deficiency of service?”
4. The complainant filed his affidavit and marked Exs.A1 to A5. On behalf of the opposite party filed his affidavit and marked Exs.B1 to B3.
5. POINT: The complainant filed this case for issuance of degree of convocation by the opposite party. The complainant also sought return of original intermediate certificate, which was deposited with the opposite party. The fact that the complainant paid the fee for issuance of convocation degree certificate was admitted. The registration number of the complainant (hall ticket No.206049004) was also admitted. The opposite party issued a provisional certificate cum consolidated marks memorandum to the complainant. A copy of the same was marked as Ex.A1. In Ex.A1, it was mentioned that the complainant was declared to have passed the examination and that he has qualified himself for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce. In Ex.A1, the registration number was mentioned as 206049004 as admitted by the opposite party in para-5 of the written version.
6. The opposite party contended that the complainant is not qualified for the degree of B.Com., since he has not appeared for practical-III examination. The opposite party also contended that the provisional certificate is not conclusive declaration of the completion of the course. However, the contents of Ex.A1 are contrary to the stand of the written version. No doubt, the columns earmarked for practical / field work in Ex.A1 for the first, second and third year examinations are blank, with as contended by the opposite party. However, it is not known whether practical examinations will be held for the course for all the three years. This aspect is doubtful from the written version of the opposite party. In addition, the averment that the complainant qualified himself for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce and that he passed the examination have to be preferred to the oral version of the opposite party. The opposite party is relying upon Ex.B1 (marks list for practical III examination). In the above document, the number of the complainant is not found. In Ex.B1, the marks list of another candidate by name M. Guravaiah, the marks for practical examination are also mentioned. In Ex.B3, the complainant filled up the application. From the contents of Ex.B3, it is not clear whether he has mentioned the marks secured in the practical examination.
7. The stand of the opposite party is strange. It is not known as to how they have issued the provisional certificate with a declaration that the complainant passed the examination and that he qualified himself for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce, when practical examination is also part of the course, the student shall not be deemed to have passed the examination without attending the said test. Under these circumstances, how the complainant secured the provisional certificate under Ex.A1 is a mystery. How the opposite party issued the provisional certificate to the complainant, is also a mystery. It is not known as to the steps taken by opposite party for the cancellation of the provisional certificate on the ground that the complainant did not appear for the practical examination and as such his course was not completed. It is unfortunate that such a thing occurred, in a prestigious institution, like S.V.University. The complainant averred further that based on Ex.A1, he completed the course of M.B.A. from Periyar University, Tamilnadu. The complainant has not established the said fact by filing necessary documents. The same is not relevant for this case The fact that the complainant paid the convocation fee was admitted. The rejection of the same as mentioned in para-7 of the written version was not established by the opposite party. Since, the complainant paid the fee, the convocation degree should be furnished to the complainant. This is more so on the basis, that the opposite party has not initiated any steps for the cancellation of the provisional certificate issued by it to the complainant. The non issuance of convocation certificate amounts to a deficiency of service. The point is held in favour of the complainant.
7. In the result, the complaint is allowed directing the opposite party to issue convocation certificate, return the original intermediate certificate to the complainant. This order will not interfere with the right of the university to proceed against the complainant for cancellation of the provisional certificate. Under these circumstances of the case, there is no need to pay compensation. The opposite party shall pay costs of Rs.2,000/- (Rupees two thousand only) to the complainant.
Dictated to Stenographer, transcribed by her corrected and pronounced by us in the open Forum, this the 25th day of February, 2015.
Sd/- Sd/-
MEMBER PRESIDENT
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
Witnesses Examined for the complainant
P.W.1 - | 03-12-2014 | Sri Narravula Koteswara Rao, S/o.N.Krishnama Naidu, Nellore District (Affidavit filed) |
Witnesses Examined for the opposite party
R.W.1 | 30-09-2014 | Sri. V. Sudhakar, S/o.Late V.Chengaiah Working as Controller of Examinations, S.V.University, Tirupati. (Chief Affidavit filed) |
EXHIBITS MARKED FOR THE COMPLAINANT
Ex.A1 - | 09-06-2008 | Photocopy of Provisional Certificate cum Consolidated Marks Memorandum in Reg.No.206049004 in favour of complainant issued by opposite party. |
Ex.A2 - | 29-09-2011 | Photocopy of chalan amount for Rs.520/- paid by the complainant in favour of opposite party through the State Bank of India, S.V.U.Campus (Tirupathi). |
Ex.A3 - | 30-04-2014 | Legal notice from complainant’s advocate to the opposite party. |
Ex.A4 - | 30-04-2014 | One postal registered post receipt addressed to the opposite party by the complainant’s advocate. |
Ex.A5 - | - | One postal acknowledgement received from the opposite party sent by the complainant’s advocate. |
EXHIBITS MARKED FOR THE OPPOSITE PARTY
Ex.B1 - | 08-04-2008 | Attested copies of III year B.Com., (C.C.S.) Degree examinations April, 2008 attendance sheet (two pages) and marks sheet on 01-07-2014 in favour of Moduboina Guravaiah. |
Ex.B2 - | 25-04-2005 | Attested copy of Intermediate Pass Certificate cum Memorandum of Marks in favour of complainant issued by Board of Intermediate Education, A.P., Hyderaba-500 001 in registered No.050850194. |
Ex.B3 - | - | Attested copy of Application for the award of the Degree of B.A., B.Sc., & B.Com.,in favour of complainant issued by the opposite party. |
Id/-
PRESIDENT
Copies to:
1. | Sri Penubaku Venu, Advocate, Venkatagiri, S.P.S.R.Nellore. |
2. | Sri A.V. Muralikrishna, Advocate, 26/1/400, B.V. Nagar, A.K.Nagar (P.O.), Nellore. |
Date when free copy was issued: