PERTH(TIP): A Punjabi-origin entrepreneur and educationist has won a major legal case in Australia that allows him to run his institution, Unique International College, besides making him eligible to receive a payment of 26 million Australian dollars (Rs 136.32 crore) which was withheld pending the court case.
He is also eligible to get legal costs of another AUD 4 million (Rs 20.97 crore) from the commonwealth of Australia.
The entrepreneur, Amarjit Khela, had won the case last week after a long battle in which he braved racism, defamation and several accusations, including that of unfair practices to attract students to his college. Khela has remained in news because of his phenomenal rise to become an educationist and an entrepreneur. He had gone to Australia as a student when he was 19.
He belongs to Sajawalpur village in Nawanshahr district. Ninder Ghugianvi, media and cultural coordinator, Punjab Kala Bhawan here, in a statement, hailed the court order as the victory of Punjabiyat. “Khela fought for the rights of Punjabis to grow in the foreign land. His book titled “I don’t lie” described his struggle in Australia,” he said.
He worked in restaurants and did menial jobs and later became the first Punjabi to own a college in Sydney. His college ran into controversy when the Australian Consumer Commission and a watchdog agency accused him of malpractices, including giving free laptops and other gifts to students.
“My victory is the victory of truth and against racism and certain individuals who were against the rise of Punjabis or Indians in Australia,” he told The Tribune over the phone.
As per the copy of the court orders, the Full Federal Court found that Unique International College did not engage in a system of unconscionable conduct in enrolling vulnerable students in diploma courses. Khela had lost the case in a lower court last year.
The case had hogged limelight as the Australian consumer watchdog claimed to recover $140 million paid to the college under the Commonwealth funding scheme.