Atul Kumar, an 18-year-old from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, was overjoyed when he passed a challenging entrance exam in June, allowing him to join one of India’s prestigious technology institutes. However, his excitement quickly turned into anxiety when he had to pay 17,500 rupees ($281; £156) online to confirm his admission. For Atul’s family, this was a significant sum, considering their modest income.
His father, Rajendra Kumar, who works as a daily wage laborer earning about 450 rupees ($5; £4) a day, managed to borrow the money just in time. Yet, despite their best efforts, Atul missed the fee deadline by mere seconds, partly due to technical glitches. This moment marked the beginning of a long struggle for the family, leading to petitions and court cases to secure Atul’s admission at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Dhanbad.
This week, the Supreme Court of India stepped in, invoking its special powers to order IIT Dhanbad to reinstate Atul’s admission. The court emphasized that “we cannot allow such a young talented boy to go away,” demonstrating its support for the young student.
Atul’s journey to this point has been marked by significant hurdles, as his family comes from the Dalit community, one of the most marginalized groups in India’s caste system. The IITs, which are highly sought-after institutions in India, receive applications from over a million candidates each year, with only about 18,000 seats available across 23 colleges nationwide. Many students, like Atul, spend years in coaching centers, preparing for the competitive entrance exams, with the hope that gaining admission to an IIT will pave the way for a successful future.
Atul’s story has captured national attention, not just because of his achievement but also because of his family’s financial struggles and the challenges they faced. His father, Rajendra Kumar, has consistently placed his children’s education above all else, going to great lengths to support them. He once sold his house to fund the education of his eldest son and told the BBC that he was willing to do whatever it took to ensure his children’s success.
Two of Atul’s brothers are currently studying engineering at well-known colleges, while another brother is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Muzaffarnagar. Determined to follow in their footsteps, Atul devoted hours each day to his studies, often in a dimly lit corner of his house. The erratic electricity supply in the area further complicated his study routine, with frequent power cuts lasting for hours.
Despite these challenges, Rajendra Kumar could not afford to buy an inverter, which would have cost around 25,000 rupees. Reflecting on this, he stated, “But I would have sold the house [again] if needed.”
Atul had been attending a free coaching center for marginalized students in a nearby city, which helped him prepare for the IIT entrance exam. This year marked his second and final attempt, as students are only allowed two opportunities to take the exam. When he passed the test, it was a moment of triumph for the family, but they soon faced another obstacle – paying the admission fee.
With the fee deadline fast approaching, Rajendra Kumar turned to a local moneylender for help, but the lender backed out just two hours before the deadline. Left with little time, he reached out to friends, who pooled together 14,000 rupees. Rajendra Kumar then contributed 3,500 rupees from his savings to make up the full amount.
The money was quickly deposited into Atul’s bank account, and he logged in to complete the admission process. However, he had just 180 seconds left before the deadline expired. In a rush to complete the formalities, the family encountered another hurdle – the payment portal froze, and Atul missed the deadline.
The impact on the family was immediate and severe. No one ate for a full day as they processed the gravity of the situation. Atul’s coaching center contacted IIT Dhanbad on his behalf, but they received no assistance. Undeterred, the family sent emails to multiple college authorities and even took their case to another court, but these efforts yielded no results.
With their options dwindling, the family decided to approach the Supreme Court. Interestingly, this was not the first time the court had intervened in such a case. In 2021, it had allowed a Dalit student to join IIT Bombay after he missed the fee deadline due to similar financial and technical difficulties. Atul and his father reached out to that student, who connected them with the lawyer who had successfully fought his case.
When the case reached the Supreme Court, IIT Dhanbad argued that Atul had logged into the payment portal at 3 p.m., suggesting that he was not making a last-minute attempt. The institution also pointed out that Atul had received several reminders about the fee deadline via text messages. However, the court questioned why IIT Dhanbad was so determined to oppose Atul’s admission, especially given the extenuating circumstances.
The Supreme Court noted that there was no reason to believe that Atul wouldn’t have paid the fee if he had the means to do so. The justices ordered IIT Dhanbad to create an additional seat in the current batch to accommodate Atul. This decision ensured that his hard work and perseverance would not go in vain.
The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, personally wished Atul well in his studies, saying, “All the best, do well!” The court’s intervention brought relief to Atul and his family, ending a long period of uncertainty and stress.
Atul’s story highlights the immense pressure and challenges faced by students from marginalized backgrounds in India, where access to higher education can be a ticket to economic and social mobility. His case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that talented students are not denied opportunities due to financial or technical obstacles. The court’s decision to intervene in this matter underscores the judiciary’s role in safeguarding the rights of individuals, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.