SC orders creation of seat in IIT-Bombay for Dalit student

The bench observed that it will be a great travesty of justice, if a Dalit boy misses out on admission due to a technical glitch

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the IIT-Bombay to create a seat for a Dalit student, who passed the entrance examination but could not deposit the fee on time due to technical glitches.

"It will be a great travesty of justice, if a Dalit boy misses out on admission due to a technical glitch. This court has before it a young Dalit student who is on the verge of losing a valued seat, allocated in IIT Bombay. Hence, we are of the view that it’s a fit case of the use of Article 142 of the Constitution," a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and A S Bopanna said.

During the hearing, the court told the counsel, appearing for Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JOSAA) that they should not be wooden on the issue and understand the realities of social life and the practical difficulties on ground.

“The student did not have money, then sister had to transfer money and then there were technical issues. The boy cleared the exam. If it was his negligence then we would not have asked you," the bench said.

The court also said everybody can't be expected to have multiple credit cards.

Also Read | In this UP school, Dalit children face constant violence

Maintaining that the matter should be dealt with a humanitarian approach, the bench said not admitting the student was just bureaucracy.

The authorities, for their part, submitted that all seats have already been filled.

The court, however, referred to the excellent track record of the boy.

The bench ordered a seat should be allocated to the boy without disturbing the admission of any other student, and the creation of this seat will be subject to admission being regularised if (any other) seat falls vacant. The student got a seat allocated at IIT Bombay in B Tech civil engineering branch on October 27.

The petitioner had logged into the website on October 29 and uploaded the requisite documents, but he fell short of money to pay the seat acceptance fee. His sister transferred the money to him on October 30 and he again tried to make payment several times but failed.

Check out latest DH videos here