In a shocking instance, a software centre dropped a brilliant trainee midway through its course, on concocted grounds. He had shelled out an amount of Rs one lakh for the programme. However, the consumer redressal forum ordered the firm to refund the entire amount along with compensation.

Damodar S Hegde, an MCA (Master of Computer Applications) post graduate from Karnataka University, Dharwad, was selected in the aptitude test conducted by Stag Software Services, based in Domlur, Bangalore, Mr Hegde  paid Rs one lakh  towards the Talent Acquisition Programme of Boden Software Services in Dharwad. The office of the company, located  in BTM Layout, Bangalore, had also issued a receipt for the amount.

He joined the 24-month course  on October 10, 2006. The course comprised six months of training and 18 months of project work. It was agreed that a monthly stipend of Rs 8000 would be paid to him throughout the course. But on November 22, 2006, he was dropped from the programme, without being given any reason. Several letters by him, requesting the firm to permit him to continue, were in vain.

The firm also failed to refund the amount of Rs one lakh remitted as the course fee. Although he had been assured a monthly payment of Rs 8000 every month, he received  only Rs 4000 for the month he attended the course. He was also prevented from joining other software service companies at this time and missed several opportunities. He finally approached the IV Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum. The firm claimed that Hegde had been dismissed because of his boorish behaviour, leading to complaints against him from the other students.

After sifting through the documentary evidence, the IV Additional Consumer Forum ruled that the documents furnished by Course Coordinator  Hemalatha and the chief technical officer had been concocted after receiving a letter from the complainant, seeking reasons for his dismissal.

Forum President Sri G Siddanagoud found Boden Software Services Pvt Ltd in Bangalore, Course Coordinator Miss Hemalatha and Chief Recruiter Mamatha Devaiah guilty of deficient service. They were  ordered to refund Rs 96,000 to the complainant within six weeks, along with Rs 25,000 as compensation, with additional costs of Rs 5000.