Supreme Court helps Dalit student who missed IIT seat over fee: All the best

Atul Kumar, 18, cleared the prestigious JEE exam in his last attempt and was allotted a seat in Electronics Engineering at IIT Dhanbad. However, he was unable to pay the required fee by the deadline of June 24. 

In Short

• Supreme Court directs IIT Dhanbad to admit Dalit student
• Student missed fee deadline after clearing IIT entrance exam
• Chief Justice Chandrachud criticises the procedural hardships

The Supreme Court on Monday directed IIT Dhanbad to grant admission to a Dalit student who lost his seat after missing the deadline to deposit the fee.

During a hearing on Monday, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, "We cannot allow such a young talented boy to go away. He went to Jharkhand legal services authority. Then he went to Chennai legal services and then he was sent to high court. A Dalit boy is being made to run from pillar to post."

Atul Kumar, 18, cleared the prestigious JEE exam in his last attempt and was allotted a seat in Electronics Engineering at IIT Dhanbad. However, he was unable to pay the required fee by the deadline of June 24.

Kumar, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar and the son of a daily wager, approached the Jharkhand High Court and Madras High Court before moving the Supreme Court.

The student's lawyer told the Supreme Court that his father earns Rs 450 per day. "The task of arranging Rs 17,500 is a big deal. He (father) collected the money from villagers," he said.

The advocate appearing for IIT Dhanbad said that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) sent Atul Kumar a SMS and IIT sent him two WhatsApp chats to finish payment.

"He made login every day," the IIT's advocate said.

To this, Justice Pardiwala said, "Why are you opposing so much? Why are you not finding the way out? The seat allotment intimation slip shows that you wanted him to pay and if he did, then nothing else was required."

Chief Justice Chandrachud said, "He is such a bright student. The only thing that stopped him was Rs 17,000."

"No child should be left like this just because he doesn't have fees of Rs 17,000," he added.

The Supreme Court noted that the deadline to deposit the fee was 5 pm on June 24. The student's parents arranged for the fee by 4.45 pm but when they made the payment, it was not processed and the portal closed at 5 pm.

"The login details indicate that he was diligent to log into the portal. There was no considerable reason why the petitioner would have done so if he didn't have the fees to pay. We are of the view that a talented student should not be left in the lurch. We direct that admission be granted to IIT Dhanbad," the court said in its order.

The Chief Justice said that Atul Kumar should be admitted to the same batch and a supernumerary seat be created for him without disturbing the candidature of any other student.

"All the best. Acha kariye (do well)," the Chief Justice wished Atul Kumar.