Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta has helped a student who could not afford the fee at a US university. .Amicus Curiae Nalin Kohli told Delhi High Court’s Justice Vikas Mahajan today that SG Mehta has agreed to pay the entire last semester’s fee for Puneet Singh, who is studying at New York’s Hofstra University. This will amount to nearly US$ 12,000 or approximately ₹10.2 lakh. .The Court appreciated Mehta’s decision and acknowledged the efforts of Amicus Curiae Nalin Kohli and advocate Garima Jain, the counsel representing the Canara Bank. .Justice Mahajan was hearing a plea filed by Singh’s father, Ramesh Kumar, seeking directions to Canara Bank to release the last semester’s fee. They had taken an education loan from the bank of around US$70,000 (nearly ₹58 lakh) from the bank. However, this was subject to the family paying 15% of the margin money. The Court was told that the bank has disbursed a total sum of ₹55 lakh till now, but is not ready to pay the rest of the money without the 15% margin money. .It was stated that Kumar has been battling with cancer since 2014, and the funds and savings of the family have been drained out on account of his treatment. On May 23, the Court had appointed Senior Advocate Nalin Kohli amicus curiae in the case. He told the Court that the interest of the bank is fairly secured by the collateral furnished by the petitioner, and all that remains in the petitioner’s education is the issuance of a degree on the payment of the tuition fee.
