The Supreme Court on Thursday exercised its extraordinary constitutional authority to permit an architecture student at IIT Kharagpur, diagnosed with a mental health condition, to transfer to IIT Roorkee on medical grounds.
A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to facilitate the relocation. The apex court directed IIT Kharagpur to issue the required migration certificate and supporting documents within one week to clear the path for the student’s admission to IIT Roorkee.
Medical Needs And Court Directives
The justices stated that the order was issued in light of the specific health challenges faced by the petitioner. The student suffers from documented borderline personality disorder, a condition requiring specialized, non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy alongside parental supervision.
The division bench noted that serving the interest of justice required facilitating the transfer. The court added that the student must comply with all financial requirements and fee structures mandated by IIT Roorkee.
Prior Assessment And Case History
In earlier proceedings, the top court had ordered the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to perform an independent medical evaluation of the student.
The student’s petition argued that IIT Kharagpur’s refusal to grant a transfer restricted his access to vital, life-preserving treatment. The plea also highlighted that the institute had previously permitted identical medical transfers for other students facing health issues.
