Supreme Court tells IIT-Dhanbad to admit Dalit student who failed to deposit fee

The Supreme Court on Monday came to the rescue of a Dalit student, who could not secure admission in IIT-Dhanbad after missing the deadline to deposit fee as it ordered the institute to admit him to a BTech course.

“We are of the view that a talented student... who belongs to a marginalised group… who did all to secure admission should not be left out... we direct that the candidate is granted admission to IIT-Dhanbad,” a Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said.

Invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, which empowers the Supreme Court to pass any orders to do complete justice, the Bench ordered that a supernumerary post be created to accommodate him so that the admission of no other student was disturbed. “All the best! Achha kariye (do well),” the CJI told Kumar after passing the order. As the counsel appearing for the IIT Seat Allocation Authority opposed Atul Kumar’s petition, the Bench asked, “Why are you opposing so much? You should see if something could be done.”

It said, “The only thing that stopped him was the inability to pay and as the Supreme Court, we need to see that.” Kumar (18) hails from a BPL family in Titora village of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. He cleared the JEE-Advanced in his second and last attempt. Having secured 1,455th rank in the Scheduled Castes category, he got a seat at IIT-Dhanbad for BTech in Electrical Engineering. However, his parents failed to deposit Rs 17,500 as the acceptance fee by the June 24 deadline for blocking the seat. He would have lost the opportunity but for the top court’s intervention.

Can’t be left in lurch

“We cannot allow such a young talented boy to go away. A talented student like the petitioner cannot be left in the lurch. He is a Dalit boy being made to run from pillar to post, he is the son of a daily wager,” said a CJI-led Bench.