NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday, September 30 ordered the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad to admit Atul Kumar, an 18-year-old Dalit student, who lost his seat after failing to meet the fee submission deadline. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, expressed its concern over the hardships faced by the young boy and directed that a supernumerary seat be created to accommodate him without affecting the other students’ admissions.
Atul Kumar, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and secured a seat in Electronics Engineering at IIT Dhanbad. Due to financial challenges, he was unable to pay the required Rs 17,500 fee before the June 24 deadline. Kumar’s father, a daily wage laborer earning Rs 450 per day, managed to collect the money with the help of villagers, but the payment was processed too late as the portal closed at 5 p.m.
“We cannot allow such a young talented boy to go away,” remarked CJI Chandrachud during the hearing. He further criticised the process that forced Atul Kumar to approach multiple courts, saying, “A Dalit boy is being made to run from pillar to post.”
Atul had earlier sought help from both the Jharkhand and Madras High Courts before bringing his case to the Supreme Court. His lawyer highlighted the family’s financial struggle and how close they were to meeting the deadline, with the funds arranged just minutes before the portal closed.
The IIT’s counsel argued that the institution had sent multiple reminders through SMS and WhatsApp, urging the student to complete the payment. However, Justice JB Pardiwala questioned why the institution was opposing the admission, noting that Kumar had logged into the portal regularly, showing his intent to pay.
Chief Justice Chandrachud stressed, “He’s a remarkably bright student, and the only barrier was ₹17,000. No child should be left behind simply because they can’t afford the fees.”
In its final order, the Supreme Court acknowledged the student’s diligence and the unfortunate timing of the failed transaction. The bench directed IIT Dhanbad to admit Atul Kumar to the same batch and create an additional seat for him.
There have been several similar cases where the courts have intervened to protect the rights of students who faced technical or financial challenges in securing admissions. Some examples are Vishal Ashok Thorat Case (2022), Arvind Kumar Case (2021), Vaibhav Mishra Case (2019).
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