18-year-old Atul Kumar, a talented student from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, found himself in a heartbreaking situation after missing his chance to study at IIT Dhanbad. Despite overcoming financial struggles and clearing the IIT entrance exam, Atul was unable to secure his seat in Electronics Engineering because he missed the deadline to pay the acceptance fee of Rs 17,500, reported India Today.
Atul received his acceptance letter to IIT Dhanbad on June 20. He had 4 days to pay the acceptance fee. People in the village came forward to donate whatever money they could so that Atul could fulfill his academic dream. However, just minutes before the deadline, when Atul tried to submit the fee online, the IIT portal logged him out at 4:56 PM, with the deadline being 5 PM. Despite his efforts to re-enter, he couldn’t complete the payment on time.
Devastated, Atul sought legal help. Initially, he approached the Jharkhand High Court, which suggested he file his petition in the Madras High Court. But after facing delays, his lawyer advised withdrawing the case. Left with no other option, Atul finally approached the Supreme Court.
On September 24, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud listened to Atul’s plea and expressed willingness to help.
“We will do whatever we can, but why did you wait for three months after the June 24 deadline?” asked the court.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 30.
Atul comes from a below-poverty-level family. His father works at a cloth factory and earns Rs 450 a day. His mother juggles between toiling the field and making cots. He has three other brothers – one is 24 and has completed his MTech from NIT Hamirpur, another is 23 and graduated from IIT Kharagpur, and the third is 20 and also in college, reported TOI. All the 4 brothers are academically well-to-do and the entire village roots for them.
Atul’s father has a loan of Rs 3 lakh, which he secured by asking money from neighbours, relatives and friends, to fund his sons’ education. They are very mindful when it comes to spending money – sometimes sacrificing basic necessities like clothes and food.
The entire village is rooting for Atul, hoping that the Supreme Court can help him secure his well-earned seat at IIT Dhanbad.