The petitioner, a diligent student, recently appeared for the JEE (Advanced) 2024 Examination, securing an impressive rank of 1455 within his category. This was his second and final attempt, as the rules permit only two attempts for admission into IITs. Hailing from a low-income family in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, the student’s father works as a daily wage laborer, further emphasizing the financial challenges faced by his family.

After completing his higher secondary education, the student was allotted a seat in the Bachelor of Technology program in Electrical Engineering at IIT Dhanbad. Despite his academic success, he faced significant hurdles in the admission process, culminating in a legal battle to secure his place.

The admission timeline required all necessary documents to be uploaded and fees paid by 5 PM on June 24, 2024. The student's family managed to gather the required funds, depositing the fee into his brother's account by 4:45 PM. However, despite his best efforts to log into the admission portal and complete the process, the payment was not processed before the deadline.

Following this setback, the student reached out via email to the relevant authorities, only to be redirected multiple times without resolution. Eventually, he sought assistance from the Jharkhand High Court Legal Aid Service Committee, leading him to file a writ petition in the Madras High Court, which advised him to approach the Supreme Court.

In the Supreme Court, the facts were clear: the student had been allotted a seat, his Scheduled Caste status was confirmed, and he had made every effort to meet the admission requirements. The first respondent provided log-in details showing that the student had accessed the portal diligently, attempting to secure his admission on multiple occasions.

The court noted that it was unjust to deny admission to a capable student from a marginalized background, particularly given his earnest attempts to comply with all admission requirements. The Supreme Court emphasized its constitutional mandate under Article 142 to ensure substantial justice in such circumstances.

In light of the circumstances, the court ordered that the student be granted admission to IIT Dhanbad in the Electrical Engineering program. A supernumerary seat would be created to accommodate him without displacing existing students, and he would be entitled to all benefits associated with admission, including hostel accommodations.

Recognizing the delays were not the student's fault, the court urged the Director of IIT Dhanbad to assist the student in catching up on coursework for the academic year, ensuring he would not fall behind due to the admission delays.

This decision marks a significant step in ensuring that deserving students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are given equal opportunities to pursue higher education. The Supreme Court’s intervention not only underscores the importance of equitable access to education but also reinforces the need for responsive administrative processes within educational institutions. The ruling stands as a testament to the judicial commitment to justice and fairness in the realm of education.