Consumer Redressal

The case concerns a provisional admission sought for my daughter into the B Pharm course at Sister Nivedita University (New Town, Kolkata- 700156, West Bengal) for session 2020-21, for which I paid ₹30,000 on 17/06/2020 to their admission department. When the payment was made, the admission office categorically told us that the nature of admission is provisional, and the fee paid would be refunded with a nominal deduction as an administrative fee should the student decides not to take admission for any reason. It was formally communicated to the institution in September 2020 that it would not be possible for my daughter to take admission due to some personal circumstances. Subsequently, the university staff assured us that the refund would be initiated by October 2020. Unfortunately, even after almost a year, the institution have not made the refund. During this period, I have made several phone calls, email reminders, and a personal visit to the university campus office, to enquire about the status of the refund. I have been told by the accounts office that the decision to make the refund rests with the higher management authority and they are helpless in this regard. It is a difficult time (with the pandemic) that affected my financial situation and withholding the money has created hardship for me. Please advise.