Supreme Court Uses Article 142 Powers to Secure IIT Admission for Meritorious Student Facing Payment Glitch

The Supreme Court of India exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to grant admission to Atul Kumar, a deserving student from a marginalized Scheduled Caste background, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad. The Court recognized Kumar's exceptional merit and diligent efforts to secure admission despite encountering a last-minute procedural obstacle related to fee payment.

Background of the Case: Atul Kumar, hailing from an economically disadvantaged Scheduled Caste family, achieved an impressive All India Rank of 1455 in the Scheduled Caste category in the highly competitive Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) - Advanced 2024. This success earned him a seat in the Electrical Engineering program at IIT Dhanbad. However, he faced a significant hurdle in finalizing his admission due to a payment processing delay.

The deadline for completing the online admission process, including fee payment and document upload, was set for June 24, 2024, at 5:00 PM. Kumar initiated the payment process at 4:45 PM and completed all necessary steps on the admission portal within the stipulated timeframe. However, his payment transaction was not processed before the deadline. Kumar promptly contacted the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) and IIT Dhanbad to resolve the issue, but no timely solution was provided.
Concerned about losing his hard-earned seat, Kumar sought legal recourse, first through the Jharkhand High Court Legal Aid Service Committee and then the Legal Services Committee of the Madras High Court, ultimately receiving advice to approach the Supreme Court. Question of Law: The primary legal question was whether the Supreme Court could invoke its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to grant relief to a student who had diligently attempted to comply with the admission process but faced an unforeseen technical glitch.

Supreme Court's Observations:
The Court carefully considered the unique circumstances of the case, emphasizing Kumar's academic merit, disadvantaged background, and commendable efforts in the admission process. The Court noted the uncontested facts: Kumar's confirmed seat at IIT Dhanbad, his Scheduled Caste status, and his proactive steps to meet admission requirements.

Reviewing the login records submitted by the respondent authorities, the Court observed that Kumar accessed the admission portal six times between 3:12 PM and 4:57 PM on June 24, 2024, demonstrating his commitment to securing his place at IIT Dhanbad. The Court asserted that a talented student from a marginalized community should not be deprived of a vital opportunity due to a technicality, and deemed it appropriate to invoke its powers under Article 142 to ensure substantial justice.

The Supreme Court ordered IIT Dhanbad to grant admission to Atul Kumar for the Electrical Engineering seat originally allocated to him. To facilitate his transition, the Court mandated that he be admitted to the same academic batch he would have joined had the procedural hurdle not occurred. The Apex Court further held that "A talented student like the petitioner who belongs to a marginalized group of citizens and has done everything to secure admission should not be left in the lurch."
To accommodate this decision, the Court permitted IIT Dhanbad to create a supernumerary seat for Kumar if necessary, ensuring that no existing student's position was compromised. The Court directed the Institute to provide Kumar with all necessary academic and residential facilities, including hostel accommodation.

Recognizing the academic disadvantage resulting from the delayed admission, the Supreme Court urged the Director of IIT Dhanbad to extend all necessary support and guidance to Kumar, including assistance in completing missed coursework and ensuring he could catch up with his peers without facing undue hardship.

Coram: Chief Justice Dr. Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Justice J. B. Pardiwala, Justice Manoj Misra.
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Date of Judgment: September 30, 2024