After SC orders IIT to admit Dalit student following missed fee payment, controversy sparks: 'What if it were a poor Brahmin boy?'

A Dalit boy has made headlines after being granted admission to IIT Dhanbad. The Supreme Court¡¯s decision to allow his admission comes after his father faced challenges in submitting the required fees on time. However, this ruling has also ignited a heated debate: as many celebrate this step toward inclusivity, others are questioning whether the Supreme Court would extend the same leniency to students from the General Category.

What are people saying?

18-year-old Atul Kumar faced a heartbreaking setback when he was denied admission to IIT Dhanbad after missing the fee payment deadline of Rs 17,500 by just a few minutes.

After months of struggling for a solution, the Supreme Court finally intervened on Monday, ordering IIT Dhanbad to admit the student.

While many praised the Supreme Court¡¯s decision and applauded Atul¡¯s determination, a wave of controversy erupted in the comments. One user questioned, ¡°Would they do the same if the child was not a Dalit?¡±

Another comment echoed the sentiment, saying, ¡°Pretty sure lot of General category students missed their chances too but nah SC the supreme authority of leftist ideology not going to ignore "Dalit" soap opera.¡±

Pretty sure lot of General category students missed their chances too but nah SC the supreme authority of leftist ideology not going to ignore "Dalit" soap opera.

¡ª Thirain (@KingThirain) September 30, 2024

Yet another asked, ¡°What would have happened if it was a poor Brahmin boy instead?¡±

What would have happened if it was a poor Brahmin boy instead ? Have we been so much empathetic towards poverty ending his career? Anyway this guy deserves a chance to be admitted if all other conditions get satisfied.

¡ª The Cancerian ? (@choddi_pua) September 30, 2024

Others chimed in with similar concerns, asking if the same leniency would have been extended to a poor student from the General category.

This is great judgment BUT if the student is as below poverty line but belonged to the general caste category would the SAME leniency & exception be showed??
Fully support this judgment by CJI but would the same be said for non-dalit, non OBC or backward category candidates??

¡ª Shantanu Verma (@AapBaar) September 30, 2024

What is your opinion on this?

Why was Atul Kumar denied admission to IIT?

Atul has achieved 1455 rank in the JEE Advanced 2024, securing a seat in Electrical Engineering at IIT Dhanbad.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Atul¡¯s father, a daily wage laborer, worked tirelessly to gather the funds but unfortunately could not meet the deadline.

This was Atul's last chance to get admitted, as students are only allowed two attempts.

Unfortunately, despite arranging the funds by 4:45 PM, when Atul logged in to pay and upload the necessary documents, the portal had already closed at 5 PM, preventing the payment from being processed.

For three months, Atul's father sought help from the SC/ST Commission and approached the Jharkhand and Madras High Courts, but nothing worked.

In desperation, he turned to the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud expressed concern, stating, ¡°We cannot allow such a young talent boy to go away¡­ He is a Dalit boy being made to run from pillar to post,¡± and ordered IIT Dhanbad to admit Atul.

#Congratulations; The Supreme Court has mandated IIT Dhanbad to admit Atul Kumar, a 18-year-old Dalit student who missed the fee payment deadline by minutes. https://t.co/jC6nn6C7O2 pic.twitter.com/laouBTZGoH

¡ª The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) September 30, 2024

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