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.

Mr.X, a final-year student at X University in City A, approached me when the university administration demanded four months of complete bank transaction history to verify his internship at Y.company. The university claimed this was standard procedure to confirm internship salary payments and prevent fraudulent submissions. Mr.X felt this was an excessive invasion of privacy, as his bank statements contained personal expenses, family transactions, and other confidential financial information unrelated to his internship. Despite other students complying with this demand, Mr.X was uncomfortable sharing such extensive personal financial data and questioned the legal validity of this requirement.

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.

• Request specific salary certificates from your internship company instead of complete transaction history
• Negotiate with university administration for redacted statements showing only relevant transactions
• Document all communications with the university regarding this demand for future reference

Applicable Sections of Law

This case involves privacy rights under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and constitutional rights under Article 21. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 318 addresses wrongful confinement in context of coercion, while Section 351 covers criminal intimidation if threats are involved. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 also applies to educational services. Universities must follow the University Grants Commission guidelines and cannot demand excessive personal information without legitimate justification and proportionate necessity.

If You Are the Complainant

• File formal complaint with university grievance committee citing privacy violation concerns
• Submit written objection to the registrar explaining why complete transaction history is excessive
• Approach the University Grants Commission with complaint about unreasonable documentation demands
• Consider filing complaint with State Consumer Forum for deficiency in educational services
• Document all instances of coercion or threats made by university officials regarding submission

If You Are the Victim

• Exercise your right to data minimization by offering alternative proof like salary certificates
• Request written justification from university explaining why complete transaction history is necessary
• Seek support from student union or student representatives to challenge this policy collectively
• Consider approaching media if university refuses reasonable alternatives and acts arbitrarily
• Maintain records of all personal expenses that would be unnecessarily disclosed through this demand

How the Police Behave in Such Cases

Police typically treat these as civil disputes between educational institutions and students initially. They may suggest approaching university authorities or consumer forums first. If harassment or criminal intimidation is involved, police will register complaints under relevant BNS sections. However, they often prefer mediation between parties rather than immediate criminal proceedings, especially when institutional policies are involved rather than individual criminal acts.

FAQs People Normally Have

Can universities legally demand complete bank statements? Universities can request reasonable documentation, but complete transaction history may violate privacy rights unless specifically justified and proportionate.

What if other students are complying? Others’ compliance doesn’t make an excessive demand legal or reasonable for you.

Can university withhold my degree for this? Universities cannot arbitrarily withhold degrees for refusing unreasonable documentation demands.

Are there alternatives to full transaction history? Yes, salary certificates, internship letters, or redacted statements showing only relevant transactions are reasonable alternatives.

What Evidence Is Required?

• Original university communication demanding complete transaction history
• Email correspondence showing refusal to accept reasonable alternatives
• Internship offer letter and completion certificate from company
• Salary certificate or pay slips from internship company
• University admission documents and fee payment records
• Written objections submitted to university administration
• Witness statements from other students facing similar demands

How Long Will the Investigation Take?

University internal grievance committees typically take 30-60 days for resolution. Consumer forum complaints may take 6-12 months depending on case complexity. UGC complaints usually receive response within 3-6 months. Court proceedings, if necessary, may extend 1-2 years. The timeline largely depends on university’s willingness to negotiate reasonable alternatives and whether multiple students challenge the policy collectively.

Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India