Abirami paid her full two-year course fee upfront but left the institute after one year due to poor teaching quality. The institute refused to refund the remaining fee. Which consumer right did the institute violate, and why does this right matter even when a student voluntarily signs up for a course?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:27 · grounding rag
Model Answer
The institute violated Abirami's Right to Choose. Even though she voluntarily enrolled, this right guarantees that any consumer receiving a service — regardless of age, gender, or nature of service — has the right to discontinue it at any point. Forcing her to forfeit the remaining fee effectively denied her this choice.
This right matters because voluntary enrolment does not mean permanent commitment. A consumer must always be free to exit a service if it fails to meet expected standards. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission upheld this by directing a refund of ₹28,000 to Abirami.
Source: Consumer Rights, Chapter 5 — "When Choice is Denied"
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Explanation
- Key term to use: "Right to Choose" — examiners expect this exact phrase.
- The question has two parts: (1) which right and (2) why it matters even with voluntary sign-up. Address both clearly.
- The passage explicitly states: "Any consumer who receives a service in whatever capacity...has the right to choose whether to continue to receive the service." Quote or paraphrase this for full marks.
- Citing the Commission's verdict (₹28,000 refund) strengthens the answer and shows you've read the case.