MUMBAI: In a provisional order, on Wednesday the Supreme Court ordered that IIT Bombay must allow 18 years Siddhant Batra to join and follow classes for a BTech course in electrical engineering. He had earned a JEE rank of 270 across India and secured the seat in October, only to lose within two weeks to a mistake he said he made online during the admission process. TOI was the first to report the matter on November 30.
In a virtual audience on Wednesday, a SC Bank of Justices SK Kaul, Dinesh Maheshwari and Hrishikesh Roy began by asking the IIT lawyer: “Tell us why you won’t allow it. This is not fair … When someone’s admission is complete … why would a deserving student who had already obtained admission want to cancel it? “In allowing admission, the SC observed:” There is also something known as common sense. ”
On October 31, Batra clicked on an option to “withdraw from more rounds” during online admission. It ended up with his name being removed from the list of admitted students. A fortnight ago, the Bombay HC rejected his request to reinstate his admission or create a supernumerary seat. Batra then filed an SLP with the SC last month.
The SC bank asked the IIT lawyer: “Tell us why you are not allowing it. This is not fair. When someone’s admission is complete … Why would a deserving student who had already obtained admission want to cancel it? ”
Judge Kaul said: “The three of us have argued. We are all on ad idem (meeting of minds). ”IIT attorney Sonal Jain cited the rules and said that Batra had frozen his seat, which according to the rules of the Joint Seating Allocation Authority (JoSAA) only indicated that he didn’t need to go to any more rounds, the lawyer said Batra had then “consciously” chosen to withdraw in an eight-step process and “the rules do not allow restoration.”
The bank said: “We are allowing it” and observed orally, “There is also something known as common sense.” The court asked the IIT lawyer several times: “What was the reason you gave for withdrawal?”
Appears for Batra, Lead Counsel Basava Prabhu Patil, Appears with Lead Counsel Nikhil Sakhardande and Defender Pralhad Paranjpe, said the student understood that since he had already obtained his BTech seat of choice in electricity, he did not need to continue with any more rounds. Patil showed a screenshot to the SC and said that was why she had also chosen the “no” option when asked if she would like to take JEE again next year. Jain said he would submit a detailed answer.
The bank gave IIT Bombay three days to explain how Batra had completed the withdrawal process. The SC gave the teen time to file a rejoinder and posted the matter for an additional hearing after winter break, but not without passing interim orders in his favor. The SC said: “In the meantime, by provisional order, we order that Batra be allowed to join IIT Bombay and follow the course.”
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