One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.
Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.
TL;DR: Indian engineering colleges cannot withhold certificates, hall tickets, or marksheets over project paper publication unless the university’s official curriculum explicitly mandates it. Demanding extra graduation fees without prior disclosure is also impermissible. Students can challenge such actions through university grievance cells, consumer forums, or High Court writs.
Arjun Singh was a final‑year B.Tech student at Laxmi Narayan College of Engineering in Nagpur. In May 2025, just before end‑semester exams, the department refused to sign his no‑dues clearance. The reason? He hadn’t published his project paper. Arjun and his batchmates spent anxious nights running from lab to faculty office. They finally got signatures a day before the exam. Stressful barely covers it. Weeks later, the same pattern repeated. A classmate applied for a bonafide certificate after classes ended, and the faculty again cited the unpublished paper. Now, in June 2025, as students collected transfer certificates and marksheets, the college raised the publication demand once more. And then there was the mysterious ₹1,500 “graduation fee” — no heads‑up, no breakdown, just a last‑minute demand. Arjun first approached a local lawyer. Nothing moved. So he approached the office of Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India. Advocate Sudhir Rao’s deep experience with educational law matters cut through the fog. His office quickly identified that the college’s condition was not part of the university’s approved curriculum, nor was it disclosed in the fee structure. A detailed legal notice citing UGC regulations and university ordinances was sent. Within ten days, the college issued all pending documents without insisting on publication, and it withdrew the graduation fee. The matter resolved without litigation.Key Facts of the Case
- The college withheld hall tickets, bonafide certificates, transfer certificates, and marksheets unless students published their project paper.
- No university ordinance, academic regulation, or fee prospectus mandated project paper publication as a condition for these documents.
- An additional ₹1,500 was demanded as “graduation fee” after all course fees had already been paid, with no prior disclosure.
- Students suffered mental harassment and last‑minute uncertainty before exams.
- The college backed down only after a legal notice was served, confirming the demands were baseless.
- The case fell squarely under civil and consumer law, with no criminal element.
The Direct Legal Answer
Can a college make project paper publication mandatory for issuing signatures, certificates, or hall tickets?
Not unless the university’s published ordinances or the approved curriculum explicitly state so. An autonomous college can add academic requirements, but those must be declared at the beginning of the course. Springing a new condition at the eleventh hour is arbitrary and legally untenable.
Can they delay or refuse documents like bonafide certificates, TCs, or marksheets for this reason?
No. Mark sheets, transfer certificates, and bonafide certificates are statutory entitlements. Withholding them without a lawful, pre‑disclosed ground amounts to deficiency in service and can be challenged immediately.
Is it normal to collect an additional ₹1,500 graduation fee after all course fees have been paid?
It is not normal, and it is not lawful unless the fee was part of the prospectus or fee structure approved by the university and the Fee Fixation Committee. Shadow charges violate the UGC‑mandated transparency norms.
Where should students report it?
Start with the university’s grievance redressal cell. If that fails, approach the UGC’s e‑portal for malpractices, file a consumer complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, or move the High Court under Article 226.
Advice in Such Cases
Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation to come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.
Do not wait until the last minute. As Arjun’s case shows, a legal notice often works faster than a full‑blown suit. Keep all communications in writing — WhatsApp screenshots, emails, and fee receipts. And here’s the thing, matters like these involve fine procedural nuances. A general practitioner may not spot the exact UGC provision or consumer‑law angle that an advocate who regularly handles education disputes catches immediately. That specialised lens can turn a stalled case around quickly.
Applicable Sections of Law
University Grants Commission Act, 1956, empowers the UGC to regulate standards. UGC (Prevention of Malpractices) Regulations and the mandatory disclosure norms require colleges to publish fee structures; undisclosed charges are impermissible. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 treats educational services as “service” under Section 2(11), and a deficiency gives rise to a complaint under Section 35 before the District Commission. For a mandatory injunction directing the college to issue documents, Section 38 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 is attracted. The college’s conduct may also violate Article 14 of the Constitution, opening a writ route under Article 226.
Jurisdiction — Where to File the Case
A student can first approach the university’s internal grievance cell or the UGC’s anti‑malpractices portal. For a consumer complaint, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission where the college is located has both territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction. If the controversy raises a clear legal right, a writ petition under Article 226 lies before the High Court having jurisdiction over the college. Choosing the right forum matters because consumer commissions offer quicker relief, while a writ can set a binding precedent for the entire batch.
Limitation Period
Under the Limitation Act, 1963, a suit for mandatory injunction must be filed within three years from the date the right to sue accrues — typically the day the college refused the document. A consumer complaint must be filed within two years from the date of cause of action under Section 69 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The clock starts when the unjust demand is first made. Delay can be fatal, so act swiftly. Condonation of delay is possible, but it’s not automatic.
Interim Reliefs Available
The most effective interim relief is a temporary injunction under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2, Civil Procedure Code, restraining the college from withholding the certificates pending the suit. A mandatory injunction under Section 38 of the Specific Relief Act can also be sought at the final stage to direct the college to issue the documents. In a consumer complaint, the commission can pass an interim order under Section 36 of the Consumer Protection Act. Attaching the institution’s bank account or appointing a receiver is not typical here; the threat of contempt usually suffices. Securing early interim relief compels compliance and saves the academic year.
If You Are the Victim
- Collect all documentary proof — fee receipts, emails, WhatsApp messages, and the prospectus.
- Send a formal representation to the principal and the dean, marking a copy to the university registrar.
- If the college remains unresponsive, send a legal notice through an advocate, as Arjun’s case showed, it often resolves the matter without litigation.
- Use the UGC’s e‑grievance mechanism; the commission takes fee‑related malpractices seriously.
- File a consumer complaint or a writ petition if the college does not budge.
Documents You Must Keep Ready
- Fee‑payment receipts for all semesters, including the contested ₹1,500 demand.
- Prospectus or admission brochure that lists the fee structure.
- Screenshots of faculty messages or emails threatening to withhold documents.
- Copy of the university’s academic regulations and evaluation guidelines.
- Project‑paper guidelines, if any, issued at the start of the semester.
- Application forms for bonafide certificate, TC, or marksheet that were refused.
- Identity proof — Aadhaar and enrolment number.
- Notes of any oral assurances or deadlines announced in class.
What Evidence Is Required?
- Written communication — emails, WhatsApp texts, or official letters — that show the publication demand.
- Bank statements or fee receipts proving the extra ₹1,500 was collected.
- Audio or video recordings, if permissible, capturing the faculty’s oral refusal.
- Eyewitness accounts — classmates who faced the same condition can file joint affidavits.
- The college’s own prospectus or fee‑structure circular, which acts as primary evidence.
- University ordinances showing that no such publication requirement exists.
- Any RTI reply from the university or UGC on the matter, if obtained.
How Courts Typically Approach Such Cases
Consumer commissions view unjustified withholding of academic documents as a clear service deficiency. They often direct the institution to issue the documents and pay compensation for mental agony. High Courts, under writ jurisdiction, examine whether the college acted arbitrarily and in violation of statutory regulations. Courts will not second‑guess academic policy, but they will strike down a condition that has no basis in the university’s published rules. The key is to show that the demand is ultra vires the college’s own governing framework.
Timeline of Legal Process
- Sending a legal notice: 1–2 weeks for the college to respond; many matters settle here.
- Filing a consumer complaint or writ: depending on urgency, a week to prepare the pleadings.
- First hearing and interim order: consumer forums often pass an ad‑interim direction within one to two hearings, say 4–6 weeks.
- Filing of written statement/counter‑affidavit: 30–45 days, extendable.
- Evidence and arguments: in consumer cases, 3–6 months; in writ, a couple of hearings spread over 2–4 months.
- Final order: a consumer case may conclude in 6–12 months; a writ can be decided within 3–6 months if the legal point is clear.
- Execution, if the college still doesn’t comply: recovery of compensation or attachment of assets, another 2–4 months.
Understanding the Costs
The total cost of a matter like this varies significantly from one case to the next — it depends on the complexity of the dispute, the forum involved, the number of hearings, and the specific facts of your situation. There is no single fixed figure that applies to everyone.
A professional advocate can give you an accurate estimate only after reviewing all your facts and documents in a consultation.
Can the Matter Be Settled Out of Court?
Absolutely. Many such disputes are settled at the legal‑notice stage itself, as the college realises its stand has no legal backing. Even after a case is filed, mediation or a compromise before the consumer commission or a High Court‑appointed mediator is possible. Under Section 89 of the Civil Procedure Code, the court can refer the parties to mediation. Settlement saves time, keeps relationships intact, and gets the documents released quickly. Lok Adalats can also take up pending consumer cases, though they are more common for monetary claims. For education matters, a simple undertaking by the college to issue the documents and refund any illegal charge is usually enough to close the file.
Common Mistakes People Make
- Waiting until the last day before exams or convocation to act. Early legal intervention works better.
- Destroying or deleting WhatsApp messages and emails that serve as crucial evidence.
- Paying the demanded amount under protest without a receipt — this makes it hard to prove later.
- Engaging an advocate who does not routinely handle education‑law disputes. Domain‑specific experience ensures the correct UGC regulations and consumer‑law angles are invoked, which a generalist might miss.
- Venting on social media before sending a formal complaint; it can weaken the legal position if the college uses it to claim defamation.
- Not checking the university’s official curriculum or prospectus — many students don’t realise the condition was never part of the approved rules.
FAQs People Normally Have
Can the college fail me if I don’t publish my project paper?
Only if the university’s examination guidelines explicitly link paper publication to marks or passing criteria. Otherwise, it cannot be made a precondition for awarding a degree.
Is the graduation fee illegal?
If it wasn’t disclosed in the prospectus and approved by the Fee Fixation Committee, yes. The college must refund it. The UGC frowns upon such last‑minute levies.
Where can I complain online?
The UGC’s anti‑malpractices portal and the National Consumer Helpline (for service deficiencies) are both accessible online. Your university’s grievance cell is also one click away.
How long does it take to get my certificates through a legal remedy?
If a legal notice works, within two to three weeks. Even a consumer complaint can yield an interim direction in a month or so.
Should I involve the police?
Not unless there’s fraud or cheating. For certificate withholding, civil and consumer remedies are faster and less traumatic. Police complaints often complicate rather than resolve academic disputes.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate about your specific situation.
Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India