Chandigarh, November 26
The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 280.81-crore as central assistance for the implementation of post-matric scholarship scheme for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes. The development is significant as 3.5 lakh students are entitled to the benefit spread over 2,000 institutions. The scheme is to be implemented by the state governments and union territories on 100 per cent assistance from the Union Government.
Information on the release of central assistance was given to the Punjab and Haryana High Court during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by the Association of Volunteers for Students' Rights (AVSR). In the petition, it was alleged the despite receiving central assistance, the state government was not implementing the scheme.
The state had initially taken the stand that it had “completed whatever formalities were required for release of the fund”. But the matter was still pending with the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih observed: “It is only after two dates that now an affidavit has been filed by the state government informing that vide letter dated November 1, the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 280.81 crore as central assistance”.
The Bench observed an objection was sought to be raised on the petitioner’s locus to file the petition. “But keeping in mind the public importance of the matter, it was treated as a matter of court on its own motion in terms of orders dated May 24,” the Bench observed. The Bench also observed that the payment was to be made through bank accounts of the students and the institutions.
The Bench added: “The central assistance has now been forthcoming and the state government is now in the process of disbursing the amount which shall be so implemented within a time bound schedule of six weeks. Since the scheme is on yearly basis, both the Central and the state governments must ensure that timely payments under the scheme are made".
Disposing of the petition, the Bench fixed January 17 for compliance, and added that the state government would file its compliance report three days prior to the date.
The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 280.81-crore as central assistance for the implementation of post-matric scholarship scheme for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes. The development is significant as 3.5 lakh students are entitled to the benefit spread over 2,000 institutions. The scheme is to be implemented by the state governments and union territories on 100 per cent assistance from the Union Government.
Information on the release of central assistance was given to the Punjab and Haryana High Court during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by the Association of Volunteers for Students' Rights (AVSR). In the petition, it was alleged the despite receiving central assistance, the state government was not implementing the scheme.
The state had initially taken the stand that it had “completed whatever formalities were required for release of the fund”. But the matter was still pending with the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Augustine George Masih observed: “It is only after two dates that now an affidavit has been filed by the state government informing that vide letter dated November 1, the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 280.81 crore as central assistance”.
The Bench observed an objection was sought to be raised on the petitioner’s locus to file the petition. “But keeping in mind the public importance of the matter, it was treated as a matter of court on its own motion in terms of orders dated May 24,” the Bench observed. The Bench also observed that the payment was to be made through bank accounts of the students and the institutions.
The Bench added: “The central assistance has now been forthcoming and the state government is now in the process of disbursing the amount which shall be so implemented within a time bound schedule of six weeks. Since the scheme is on yearly basis, both the Central and the state governments must ensure that timely payments under the scheme are made".
Disposing of the petition, the Bench fixed January 17 for compliance, and added that the state government would file its compliance report three days prior to the date.
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