IIIT Allahabad fines B.Techs who accept campus placement offers and then take other jobs, allege students

Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Allahabad has penalised students for accepting job offers during campus placements and then not joining the positions, opting for off-campus offers instead, alleged students at the IIIT in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The policy put in place three years ago has seen the IIIT collecting lakhs of rupees in fines, allege students, adding that those unable to clear their dues were threatened that their degrees would be withheld.

The ‘General Penalty Clauses’ section of the 2025-2026 Campus Placement Rules and Regulations, accessed by Academia360, says: “A student who refuses to join a full-time employment after accepting the offer shall be liable to pay a penalty equivalent to two months of the CTC offered by the losing recruiter.” Similarly, for an internship, the document states, “A student who fails to join or complete an internship after accepting the offer shall be liable to pay a penalty equivalent to three months of the internship stipend offered by the losing recruiter.”

Students allege they are being “harassed” for taking up better-paid offers off-campus when the trend of such hiring is on the rise and are forced to pay the penalty without which, the IIIT won’t issue a no-dues certificate. That, in turn, will get in the way of obtaining the BTech degrees.

A student, requesting anonymity, said, “The problem is that the companies who came on campus gave the offers to students on campus, and students who despite completing the whole hiring process, accepted the offer and still have not joined. It hampers the rapport between the companies and the institute as many don't come for hiring in the next academic cycle.”

IIIT Allahabad: Undertakings on placements, internships

Students alleged that the institute's placement rules require them to sign an undertaking that outlines penalties for not taking offers secured through campus placements.

According to a student from the campus, the provision has been in place for at least the last two years and is part of IIIT Allahabad’s standard placement procedure. “The disclosure has to be signed by every student sitting for the placements every academic year which clearly states that if a student receives a job offer or a six-month internship offer through the campus placement process and subsequently decides not to join, they will be fined.”

Another student said the policy has existed since 2023, when the current Training and Placement Office (TPO) administration took charge. Students have alleged that around 50 students of the 2025-26 have been penalised under the policy; this batch has graduated but is yet to receive the degrees.

Students said the policy is aimed at discouraging candidates from accepting campus offers if they are simultaneously pursuing other opportunities. However, engineering placements have periodically struggled over the past few years and students have relied on off-campus recruitment to find jobs.

Academia360 emailed both the TPO and the director. If and when they respond, this story will be updated with their comments.

Engineering Jobs: Opinion divided on penalties

Opinion on the campus placement policy is divided.

A section of students told Academia360 that students who are capable of securing off-campus roles should not occupy campus opportunities that could go to other candidates.

Others felt the size of the penalties was not justifiable, saying they were substantial. “Those who decline campus offers after accepting them are required to pay an amount equivalent to at least two months of the offered CTC, along with additional penalties,” a student said.

Another asked, “Which student would want to pay penalties running into lakhs?”

Several students further alleged that they were warned that their degrees or no-dues certificates could be withheld until the penalty amount was paid.

One student from the campus said, “I personally know at least two to three seniors whose no-dues certificates were not issued and whose degrees were delayed until they cleared the amount.”

BTech Placements: Maintaining records

Students also said they were afraid to speak up as the institute allegedly keeps an eye on all social media posts. “Students are afraid to write anything on social media as the administration closely watches all student activities online,” said one. However, the issue of the penalties was shared and debated online.

Students said the TPO maintains records of placed students and tracks whether graduates eventually join the organisations in which they were placed. According to one student, “If officials discover that a student has joined a different organisation instead of the one recorded through campus placements, no-dues certificates are not signed until the penalty is paid.”

IIIT Allahabad Placements: Affects ‘relationship with recruiters’

Other students said the institute's position is driven by concerns over maintaining long-term relationships with recruiters.

According to them, the administration believes that if a significant number of selected candidates does not join the companies that hired them through campus placements, those recruiters may stop visiting the institute in the future, affecting opportunities available to future batches.

“The admin is concerned about the reputation of the college because if many students don't join companies after getting selected on campus, those companies may not return next year,” a student said. “The institute views its penalty policy as one way to ensure that students do not hold multiple offers simultaneously and that campus opportunities are distributed fairly among eligible candidates.”

Off-campus opportunities rise

A student from the campus pointed out that this year the number of off-campus placements secured by IIIT Allahabad students has increased compared to previous years.

“While campus recruitment has also improved, we have seen that many students continue to pursue external opportunities, particularly as several major global technology firms are recruiting only limited candidates through off-campus channels for both internships and full-time roles.”

Students said the placement process at IIITs and National Institutes of Technology (NIT) differs from that of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). According to them, companies recruit from IITs through a structured day-wise placement schedule, whereas at IIITs and NITs, students apply for individual companies as opportunities arise.