30 November,2020 04:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay
An 18-year-old orphan teenager, who scored an all-India rank of 270 in JEE and secured a seat in electrical engineering course in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay, lost the seat because of one wrong click.
According to a report in Times of India, Siddhanth Batra, who was raised by a single mother whom he lost two years ago, had been accepted in first round of JEE (Advanced) 2020 on October 18.
On October 31, while looking for updates through his roll number came across a link to âwithdraw from seat allocation and further rounds'. He clicked on it under a âbona fide belief' that he was not required for further admission rounds.
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He thought the âfreeze' option implied that he was content with his seat and his admission process was complete. However, on November 10, he found out that his name was missing from the admitted students' list.
He approached the Bombay High Court against the IIT letter of withdrawal of his admission and the court directed the IIT to reconsider his petition as a representation.
On November 23, with two days to go for last date of late registration, the IIT rejected Siddhanth's appeal, saying the institute has "no authority to quash the withdrawal letter" and its hands were tied by the ârules of business' under which the admissions are conducted.
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Once a candidate has withdrawn, the seat shall stand cancelled, say the rules. The institute said that it had no seat vacant now and Siddhanth can apply again next year for JEE (Advanced) 2021.
Siddhanth has now moved the Supreme Court, seeking creation of an additional seat. The apex court will hear the matter on December 1.
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