Today, On 30th September, “We cannot allow such a talented young boy to be denied a future,” remarked the Chief Justice of India, as he ordered IIT Dhanbad to admit a Dalit student who missed the admission deadline due to a delay in paying the fee. The student, the son of a daily wage worker, had cleared the entrance exam but faced financial difficulties. The court’s intervention ensures the student’s admission despite the missed deadline.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken up the case of a Dalit daily wager’s son who secured admission to IIT Dhanbad but was unable to join due to missing the fee payment deadline.
The young man, who worked hard to clear one of the toughest engineering entrance exams, found himself in a challenging situation because his family could not afford the fees on time.
Read Also: Supreme Court Assures Support to Dalit Youth Who Lost IIT Dhanbad Seat Over Rs 17,500 Fee
CJI remarked,
“We cannot let such a talented young boy be denied a future. He approached the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority, then Chennai Legal Services, and finally the High Court. This Dalit boy is being made to run from pillar to post.”
The Supreme Court directed that a Dalit student, the son of a daily wage worker, be granted admission to IIT Dhanbad after he missed the fee payment deadline due to financial constraints. The petitioner, whose family survives on a daily wage of Rs. 450, had secured a seat at IIT Dhanbad but unable to complete the fee payment by the 5 PM deadline on June 24, 2024, despite his parents arranging the funds just minutes before.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) expressed empathy for the student’s situation, stating,
“He is the son of a daily wager earning Rs. 450. We understand technology is beneficial, but there’s a human side to this. He shouldn’t be penalized for financial constraints.”
The court recognized the petitioner’s diligence in trying to meet the requirements, as his login details showed his efforts to access the portal in time.
The court emphasized the need for a compassionate approach, with CJI noting,
“He’s such a talented student, and the only thing standing in his way was Rs.17,000.”
Although the IIT and NIC had sent reminders about the fee payment via SMS and WhatsApp, the student’s family struggled to collect the Rs. 17,500 fee in time. His advocate pointed out that raising this amount was an enormous task for the family, and the boy eventually gathered the sum with the help of villagers.
The CJI, invoking Article 142, stressed that strict legalities must sometimes be set aside to ensure justice,
“There are cases where we must set aside strict legalities to ensure justice.”
In a humane decision, the court ordered IIT Dhanbad to admit the student, underscoring that a talented student should not be denied a future simply due to financial hardship.
The CJI also welcomed any other students facing similar financial issues to come forward, saying,
“Let them come forward, and we will grant them relief too.”
This ruling marks a significant step toward ensuring access to education for students from marginalized communities, acknowledging both their talent and the financial obstacles they face.
An 18-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, Atul Kumar, who successfully cleared the JEE (Advanced) exam in his final attempt, lost his seat at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) after missing the admission deadline by just three minutes. However, hope remains as Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud assured him of assistance.
Atul, the son of a daily wage labourer working at a transformer factory in Meerut and a part-time tailor, had raised Rs. 17,500 by borrowing from villagers to confirm his admission online. Tragically, his dreams were put on hold when a technical glitch caused the portal to become unresponsive, and he missed the payment deadline by just three minutes.
Atul, a resident of Titora village in Muzaffarnagar, UP, and from a Dalit family living below the poverty line, first saw his results on his older brother’s laptop on June 9. That was when he realized he had achieved his dream of studying electrical engineering at IIT Dhanbad. His mother works as an agricultural labourer and also makes cots to support the family. Despite the financial struggles, Atul’s parents have made education a priority for their children, and Atul is not the first child in the family to secure admission to an IIT.
After missing the deadline, Atul contacted IIT Dhanbad and the coaching institute where he studied, but no resolution came. Determined to fight for his seat, he approached the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority, the Madras High Court, and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in hopes of securing the admission he worked so hard for.
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