Dalit student drags IIT to HC

New Delhi, Jul 3 (UNI) A second-year Dalit student of the Indian Institute of Technology took the premier institute to the Delhi High Court over his termination allegedly for poor academic performance.

Petitioner Kshiteez Kuldeep submitted before the court that the Deputy Registrar of IIT had struck him off the rolls on July 18. The cause, according to the resistrar, was his far too poor cumulative performance for continuation.

Hearing the petition, Justice Anil Kumar served a notice on the authorities of the IIT Delhi to explain the action by September 11.

The termination order mentions, "Kshiteez Kuldeep's name is struck off the rolls of the institute and this decision has the approval of the chairman and the senate".

A computer science student, Kuldeep stood 66th in the IIT Joint Entrance Examination, the petition claimed.

However, it mentions further his failure to secure 46 credits, compulsory for students belonging to the reserved category at the end of the fourth semester. Led to the termination.

Kuldeep prayed before the court to ensure a lesser punishment given the twin tragedies in the family. The student expressed willingness to opt for change of stream or even demotion.

Trying to explain the poor performance, the petitioner submitted before the court his depression on account of two deaths in the family. According to him, his uncle and grandfather died within a short span of time leaving him disturbed he was unable to concentrate on the studies.

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