Allahabad, October 2024 — The Allahabad High Court has awarded ₹5 lakh in compensation to a 35-year-old law student who was wrongfully admitted to a college due to the institution’s administrative error. The court ruled that the college’s negligence in processing the student’s admission caused undue mental and financial stress, leading to the significant monetary award.
The case arose when the student, who had applied for admission to a reputed law college, was mistakenly enrolled in a course that was not aligned with his chosen career path. Despite repeated requests for rectification, the college failed to correct the error in a timely manner, leaving the student in a state of uncertainty and preventing him from pursuing his legal studies as intended.
The petitioner, a working professional, had been preparing for his law degree while balancing a demanding job. However, due to the college’s mistake, he was forced to spend valuable time and resources in a course that did not meet his educational goals. The student argued that the error caused emotional distress, impacted his professional growth, and led to financial losses from tuition fees and other related expenses.
In its judgment, the court criticized the college’s administrative lapses and emphasized the importance of accountability in educational institutions. The bench noted that the college’s failure to act swiftly and resolve the issue was a clear violation of the student’s rights and led to undue hardship.
The court directed the college to not only pay the ₹5 lakh compensation but also to take immediate corrective measures in its admission processes to prevent similar mistakes in the future. The compensation amount was deemed necessary to compensate for the student’s mental anguish, financial burden, and the opportunity loss he had suffered due to the college’s negligence.
The law student expressed relief and gratitude towards the court, stating that the judgment would help him recover from the trauma caused by the mishandling of his admission. He also called on other educational institutions to be more diligent and transparent in their admission processes.
The college has yet to respond publicly to the court’s ruling. However, the case has highlighted the growing need for accountability in the education sector, where students often face significant challenges when institutions fail to fulfill their responsibilities.