LEGAL RELIEF FOR ADMISSION DELAYS CAUSED BY TECHNICAL FAILURES UNDER ARTICLE 142

by Nancy Sharma | Oct 3, 2024

Case Title	Atul Kumar vs. The Chairman (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) and Others
Introduction	The petitioner, Atul Kumar, a Scheduled Caste student, secured admission to IIT Dhanbad in Electrical Engineering but faced technical issues while completing the admission process. He approached the court seeking relief for not being able to complete the payment due to system glitches.
Factual Background	After securing a rank of 1455 in the SC category of JEE Advanced 2024, Atul Kumar was allotted a seat at IIT Dhanbad. Despite multiple attempts, He could not process the payment of fees due to technical errors in the online portal. His family is below the poverty line, and they had arranged the required funds just before the deadline.
Legal Issues	Whether the petitioner should be denied admission due to technical issues in the fee payment process. Whether the delay was the petitioner’s fault or a system failure. Whether the Court’s power under Article 142 of the Constitution can be invoked for providing relief to the petitioner.
Applicable Law	Article 142 of the Indian Constitution – Grants the Supreme Court the power to do complete justice.
Analysis	The court examined the login details, proving that the petitioner made multiple attempts to pay the fees. The Court held that denying admission to a meritorious student from a marginalized community would cause injustice. Thus, it used its powers under Article 142 to direct the authorities to grant admission.
Conclusion	The Supreme Court directed IIT Dhanbad to admit the petitioner by creating a supernumerary seat, ensuring he would not suffer due to the delay, and requested the institution to support him to catch up with his coursework.
Current Scenario	The petitioner will be admitted to IIT Dhanbad with a supernumerary seat and will be given the necessary facilities and support to ensure he completes his academic year without any setbacks.

CASE SUMMARY – In this case the petitioner, Atul Kumar, a Scheduled Caste student, secured a seat at IIT Dhanbad in Electrical Engineering through JEE (Advanced) 2024. Due to system errors while completing his admission process, his payment could not be processed on time. Despite his efforts, the technical issues led to a delay, jeopardizing his admission. The Supreme Court, invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, directed IIT Dhanbad to grant him admission by creating a supernumerary seat. The Court emphasized ensuring that a meritorious student from a marginalized community should not be denied his right due to technical faults beyond his control.

“The power under Article 142 is meant to do complete justice in a cause or matter before the Court, ensuring that justice is not defeated by technicalities.” – Supreme Court of India

SOURCE – SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

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Written By Nancy Sharma

I am Nancy Mahavir Sharma, a passionate legal writer and , a judicial service aspirant who is interested in legal researching and writing. I have completed Latin Legum Magister degree. I have been writing from past few years and I am excited to share my legal thoughts and opinions here. I believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference.