The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has asked the state and Central governments about schemes for students unable to pay the fees due to the economic situation while hearing the plea of a Dalit IIT student for whom the court had contributed Rs 15,000 towards her IIT BHU seat.
A single-judge bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh passed this order while hearing a petition filed by Sanskriti Ranjan. The Court has asked the government that there are many students who become successful in the examinations. “But due to weak financial conditions they are unable to deposit further fees. What is the state and central government doing for the economically weak meritorious students? What are the government’s plans for them? What is the provision of funds for the students?”
It was brought to the Court’s notice that in compliance with the order dated November 29, the petitioner, Sanskriti Ranjan, has been given admission by IIT BHU for Mathematics and Computing for 5 years, Bachelor and Master of Technology (Dual Degree) course. Earlier, the Court had contributed Rs 15,000 towards ensuring her seat.
The Court noted that the order dated November 29, 2021 passed by the Court in the petition, the applicant intervenor (Dr Sonal Chauhan) on her own wants to sponsor petitioner’s entire study at IIT BHU for Mathematics and Computing 5 years, Bachelor and Master of Technology (Dual Degree) Course.
S.M Singh Roykwar, counsel representing IIT BHU, submitted that he will place on record compliance affidavit as well as an affidavit of Registrar, IIT BHU detailing exact or approximate amount of fee, including hostel fee etc, for 5 years of the petitioner’s course. He may do so by the next date of listing of the case.
Sarvesh Dubey, counsel for the petitioner, further submitted that he will move a proper application for impleadment of State of Uttar Pradesh as a party-respondent.
The Court believes that this is not a solitary case where a brilliant student coming from the lower strata of society faces such difficulty in depositing the fee after cracking the admission test for prestigious institutions such as IIT. Others might not have been so fortunate to come to Court.
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Considering the said aspect, the Court said it would like to know from the Union of India as well from the State Government that whether there is some scheme/fund for sponsoring the study of such students who secure admission in the best of the institutions through entrance exams such as JEE/NEET/CLAT etc, but they are unable to pay their fee because of their poor economic conditions.
Instructions from the State Government as well as Central Government should be placed on record before the next date of listing of the case, the court ordered.
Sarvesh Dubey, counsel for the petitioner has informed about the Court that several IIT alumni have contacted him, even many advocates have come forward to sponsor entire study of the petitioner
The Court has fixed the next hearing of the petition on December 20, 2021.