AVINASH BARO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Shri Avinash Baro and 3(three) others have preferred this petition in public interest with the plea that the petitioners are first year students pursuing their studies in Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. Gist of the allegations/accusations in the petition are to the effect that after bollywood movie named "Super 30" was shown, which has been depicted as being inspired by the life of Anand Kumar and his students, a number of persons are being induced/lured into approaching the Super 30 Institute/Management. Although it has been projected that coaching of the highest standard would be provided free of costs, however, Rs. 33,000/- and odd rupees are charged. The inducement has been found to be false. A large number of persons from Northeast, under the circumstances, have been duped/cheated.

(2.) Contention of the learned senior counsel for the petitioners is that through various measures of publications, mostly newspapers and internet sites, Anand Kumar has projected himself as an Indian Mathematician, educationist and a columnist for various national and international Journals and Magazines. It has been projected by Shri Anand Kumar that he started in Patna, Bihar in 2002 and gives coaching to economically backward students for entrance in IIT-JEE course. It has been projected that in the year 2018, 422 out of 480 students had made it to IITs. "Discovery channel" showcased his work in a documentary. Various internet sites have been reflected with the Wikipedia page to demonstrate the said facts narrated above.

(3.) Learned senior counsel for the petitioners has highlighted that through the Wikipedia page, it has been projected by Shri Anand Kumar that in 1992, Kumar began teaching mathematics in a rented classroom and started his own institution Ramanujan School of Mathematics. Within the span of a year, his class grew from 2(two) students to 36(thirty-six) students and after 3(three) years, there were almost 500 students enrolled. In the year 2000, a poor student came to seek coaching for entrance in IIT-JEE who could not afford annual admission fee on account of poverty, which motivated respondent No.8/Shri Anand Kuamr to start "Super 30" Programme in 2002 for which he is well known by now. In regard to the said claims also reference has been made to various internet sites.