UP Govt To Bear Entire Fee Of Dalit Student Atul Kumar In IIT Dhanbad

Uttar Pradesh govt will cover Dalit student Atul Kumar's entire IIT Dhanbad fees through scholarship.

Atul Kumar's father, Rajendra Kumar, is a daily wage laborer.

Source : PTI

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government announced on Wednesday that it will assist Dalit student, Atul Kumar, from Muzaffarnagar, in securing admission to IIT Dhanbad by covering his entire fee through a scholarship provided by the state's social welfare department, as reported by news agency PTI.

As per the official statement, the Social Welfare Department will fully fund Atul's education under the state's scholarship scheme to ensure that he can pursue his studies at IIT.

Atul Kumar, whose father Rajendra Kumar is a daily wage laborer, faced difficulty in securing admission to IIT Dhanbad due to the inability to pay the required fees by June 24. Despite performing well in the IIT JEE exam and securing a seat in the Electronics Engineering branch, financial constraints prevented him from proceeding with the admission.

After exhausting all efforts, the family sought relief from the Supreme Court. Following the court's intervention and bringing the issue to the attention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the government stepped in to provide full support.

The chief minister immediately directed officials to extend all possible assistance to Atul. Social Welfare Minister Asim Arun contacted the student's family and assured them that the government would cover all expenses for his education.

In coordination with IIT Dhanbad, the state government has taken the necessary steps to finalise the admission process. Under this initiative, not only will Atul's initial fees be paid, but his entire four-year course fees will also be covered through the scholarship programme.

Earlier, on Monday, the Supreme Court intervened to assist the student. Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, leading a three-judge Bench, remarked, “He is a brilliant student. No child seeking education should leave the Supreme Court disappointed.”

“The only thing that prevented him from paying was his inability to do so, and as the Supreme Court of India, we must address that,” Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud stated.

Invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court directed IIT Dhanbad to admit Atul Kumar to its Electrical Engineering BTech course. Article 142 empowers the court to issue orders in the interest of justice.

“All the best. Achha kariye (Do well),” the Chief Justice wished the 18-year-old, hailing from a village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.