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UI am seeking legal advice regarding an ongoing issue at my college involving student-run committees imposing substantial monetary penalties on students under questionable circumstances. The details of the matter are as follows:
1. Unjustified Financial Penalties
Student-run committees are imposing penalties of up to ₹10,000 for failing to attend mandatory events, missing form submissions, or skipping designated sessions.
These penalties appear arbitrary and lack transparency in terms of legal authority or justification.
2. Collection of Penalties in Personal Accounts
The collected penalty amounts are being transferred into personal bank accounts of students managing these committees, rather than an official college account.
There is no formal documentation, invoice, or receipt provided for such transactions.
3. Awareness of Faculty
The Faculty Chair of Student Affairs is aware of these practices but has not intervened to regulate or stop them.
This raises concerns regarding administrative oversight and possible complicity.
4. Coercion and Threats
Students who refuse or delay payment are subjected to additional penalties.
There have been explicit threats that non-payment will result in exclusion from the placement process, which severely impacts students’ career prospects.
Given these threats, I would like to understand whether this situation falls under Section 384 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with extortion. If students are being coerced into making payments under the fear of professional repercussions, does this qualify as a criminal offense under IPC?
Given the severity of this issue, I would appreciate your legal guidance on the following points:
1) Are such penalties legally enforceable by a student-run committee?
2) What legal recourse do affected students have against such financial and professional coercion?
3) What steps can be taken to report and escalate this matter within legal frameworks?
4) Does this situation amount to financial misconduct or extortion under applicable laws, particularly IPC Section 384?
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HComplain to the principal of your college. Student-run committees cannot impose penalty arbitrarily. Also, collecting these penalty in student bank accounts is even more impermissible and shady. It is possible that few teachers and committee members are colluding to make some money. If college does not respond, then file a police complaint against both the college, students involved and teachers you think are involved. If college takes any adverse action then file Writ Petition in High Court.
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MOh boy! Let me welcome to the wonderful world of RTI.
First a caution: RTI is a very transparent tool. They will know who is requesting the information. So if you fear retaliation; please use a third party as proxy.
Write first RTI application to RTI Authority of institute.
1. Ask for rules and memorandums under which student run bodies have been granted power to discipline students and levy punishment and fines. Ask for minutes of the meetings through which these rules and procedures were adopted.
2. Ask for the procedures that must be followed by the student run bodies to punish/levy fines. Appeals process rules too.
3. Ask for the process defined for collection of these fines. Who is authorised to collect them and issue receipts etc.
4. Ask for total fines awarded and collected in last and current financial year.You get the drift.
Buy a ten rupees postal order from post office payable to the RTI and send the request by registered post with delivery receipt. Format can be googled.
Find RTI handbook on its website to guide you.
https://rti.iitd.ac.in/content/rti-handbookThis will arm you with all the knowledge you need. That’s how you screw with power trippy student council.
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