NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court ordered a separate seat for Dalit student Atul, who was denied admission to IIT for late payment of the online admission fee. The court came to the aid of Atul Kumar, the son of a daily wage labourer in Uttar Pradesh. The Supreme Court wished Atul the best and asked him to 'do good' in academics.

The order asks to give admission to the allotted electrical engineering seat in IIT, Jharkhand Dhanbad. A supernumerary post should be created for this. The action was taken using the special powers given to the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure complete justice. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra unanimously took the decision.

The IIT seat allotting authority objected but the court did not give in. The student, facing a financial crisis, had approached the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority for respite. The student's counsel told the court that many senior lawyers expressed interest in sponsoring the fee.

It was just by minute’s difference that IIT rejected the payment of Rs 17,500 made by Atul. Atul’s father earns Rs 450 per day and it was the villagers who were collecting money to help Atul. The socio-economic background of the student was taken into account by the court. The admission fee is to be paid directly by the student. All benefits to which the student is entitled should be provided including hostel admission.