Transcript Fee Paid but University Not Issuing

Reviewed on: 2026-05-30.

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• Provisional Certificate Missing: What to Do Next

When a university does not issue transcripts after fee payment, here is the complete guide:

1. Step 1: What are transcripts? (a) a transcript is an official document showing the student's academic record (courses, marks, grades, degree awarded), (b) transcripts are required for: (i) higher education abroad (universities require official transcripts), (ii) employment verification (some employers require transcripts), (iii) professional licensing (some licensing bodies require transcripts), © the university issues transcripts on request (the student pays a fee per copy — typically Rs 100-500 per transcript).
2. Step 2: Common problem. (a) the student pays the transcript fee (online or by demand draft), (b) the university does not issue the transcript (delays of weeks to months are common), © the university does not respond to emails or phone calls, (d) the student has a deadline (e.g., university admission abroad — the transcript must reach before the deadline), (e) the student's admission is at risk (without the transcript, the admission may be cancelled).
3. Step 3: Step-by-step recovery. (a) file a written request with the university's Controller of Examinations (attach the fee receipt — keep a copy of the request), (b) if the university has an online portal: check the transcript status on the portal (some universities have tracking — e.g., “Under Process”, “Dispatched”), © if the university does not respond within 15 days: file a complaint with the Vice-Chancellor (the VC is the head of the university — the complaint should be in writing), (d) if the VC does not act: file a complaint with the Chancellor (the Governor is the Chancellor of state universities — the complaint is filed at the Raj Bhavan).
4. Step 4: File RTI. File RTI with the university (all public universities are public authorities under RTI) asking for: (a) the status of transcript request number [number] dated [date] (student name: [name], roll number: [number]), (b) the date of fee payment (and the fee receipt number), © whether the transcript has been issued (if yes: provide the dispatch details — date, courier tracking number), (d) if not issued: the reason for delay, (e) the expected date of issue, (f) the university's policy on transcript issuance (what is the standard timeline — provide a copy of the policy).
5. Step 5: Escalation. (a) file a complaint with the UGC (University Grants Commission — at ugc.gov.in → “Grievance Redressal”), (b) file a complaint with the State Higher Education Department (the department has jurisdiction over state universities), © file a consumer complaint (the transcript fee is a consideration for a service — the delay is a deficiency of service under the Consumer Protection Act), (d) the consumer forum can order: (i) issuance of the transcript within a specified timeframe, (ii) refund of the fee (if the student obtained the transcript from elsewhere), (iii) compensation for the delay and harassment.
6. Step 6: Urgent situation. (a) if the student has an admission deadline: mention the deadline in the RTI application (under “life and liberty” — Section 7(1) — the university must respond in 48 hours), (b) file a writ petition in the High Court (the court can order the university to issue the transcript within a specified timeframe — e.g., 7 days), © the writ petition is the fastest remedy (the court typically hears the petition within 1-3 days — and the order is binding on the university).
7. Step 7: Common issues. (a) the university says “the records are not available” (file RTI asking for the student's academic record — the university must have the records), (b) the university says “the fee is not reflected in the system” (provide the fee receipt — the university must reconcile), © the university says “the transcript will be sent by post” (ask for the courier tracking number — and request a scanned copy by email as well), (d) the university asks for additional documents (e.g., affidavit, copy of degree — provide them to avoid further delays).

See Convocation Certificate and Find PIO.