India’s apex child rights body, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), has issued a summon to Byju Raveendran, the eponymous CEO of Byju’s. The Commission summoned Byju’s CEO over allegations that the edtech platform is indulging in malpractices to lure parents and children into entering loan-based agreements.
The NCPCR is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPC) Act, 2005. It works under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The summon is based on a media report.
Several media reports have carried heartening accounts of the alleged malpractices by Byju’s in the recent past.
“The Commission is in observance that indulging into malpractices to lure the parents or children into entering loan based agreements and then causing exploitation is against the welfare of children and in pursuance of the functions and powers under Section 13 and 14 of CPCR Act, 2005,” NCPCR said.
The Commission has asked the CEO to appear before it “in person” and furnish all details like fee structure, number of students enrolled, refund policy and fee details. It also asked for legal documents regarding the recognition of Byju’s as a valid ed-tech company another documents pertaining to claims made in the
The report cited by the child rights body claimed the edtech platform has been “actively tricking” customers into entering into loan agreements, for which they may not refunded when asked.
India’s most valuable startup has a barrage of complaints registered against it on consumer forums and social media, with accusations by customers who claim they were exploited or deceived.
Several complaints speak of aggressive salespersons, some of who coerced customers to buy study plans offered by Byju’s.
NCPCR asked the company that it has to furnish all the details asked by it on or before December 23.
Information sought by the NCPCR include: “Details of all the courses run by BYJU’s for children, the structure of these courses and the fees details, the number of students currently enrolled in each course, the refund policy of BYJU’s, the legal documents regarding the recognition of BYJU’s as a valid ed-tech company and all other relevant documents regarding the claims made in the media report”.
