Vadodara: What began as a search for affordable student accommodation close to college ended in a consumer court victory for an MS University student after she alleged that a Vadodara girls’ hostel misled her about the cost of commuting to her institute.Vadodara District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (main) directed the management of Jiviba Girls Hostel in Karelibaug to pay the student Rs 19,000 as compensation and litigation costs after finding merit in her grievance.According to the case, the student from Ankleshwar booked a room at the hostel in Sept 2022. Before taking admission, she claimed to have specifically enquired about transport to her college. The hostel staff reportedly told her that auto-rickshaw fare would be between Rs 10 and Rs 20.However, after moving into the hostel, she discovered that the actual fare ranged between Rs 60 and Rs 80 and could go up to Rs 100 if booked through an app.Claiming that the unexpectedly high commuting cost made it difficult for her to continue staying there, the student requested the hostel to cancel her admission and refund the Rs 35,000 she paid in advance.She vacated the hostel, but the management refused to refund the amount, prompting her to approach the consumer commission in Sept 2024.The hostel authorities argued that the student signed the admission form, which clearly mentioned all terms and conditions, and therefore was not entitled to any refund. They also denied that they had assured her of the lower auto-rickshaw fares.While the commission noted that the complaint did not involve any deficiency in the hostel’s core services, it observed that the student relied on the information provided regarding transport while deciding to take admission.Holding the hostel responsible for the misleading representation, the forum directed it to pay the student Rs 15,000 as compensation, besides Rs 2,000 towards litigation expenses and another Rs 2,000 for mental agony.
