Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday (October 2, 2024) said it will help Dalit student Atul Kumar, a resident of Muzaffarnagar, to get admission in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad and its social welfare department will bear the entire fee through scholarship. Atul Kumar, the son of daily wage labourer’s admission got stuck due to non-payment of fees by June 24. Later the admission was secured after the intervention of the Supreme Court.
“Through the State’s scholarship scheme, the Social Welfare Department will cover his full tuition fees. As part of this initiative, not only will Atul’s fees be covered, but the scholarship will also extend to cover all expenses incurred during his four years of study,” a statement issued by the U.P. government reads.
U.P. Social Welfare Department Minister Asim Arun contacted Atul Kumar’s family via telephone, assuring them that the U.P. government would provide all the financial support for the student’s educational journey. State government-initiated contact with IIT Dhanbad to facilitate the completion of the admission process.
The Supreme Court on September 30 directed the IIT Dhanbad to admit Mr. Kumar, who lost out on his seat after failing by a few minutes to meet the deadline to pay the requisite fee of ₹17,500. “We are of the view that a talented student should not be left in the lurch. We direct that admission be granted to him in IIT Dhanbad,” ordered a bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. The bench asked the IIT to admit the student in the same batch and directed to create a supernumerary seat for him, adding that no existing student should be disturbed in the admission process.
Published - October 02, 2024 03:28 pm IST
