Disburse scholarship to SC/ST students by Aug 30: HC

Through a Government Order (MS. No.52, dated August 11, 2017) issued by the Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, the State government had held that scholarship would be granted only to the extent of rates fixed by the Fee Structure Committee for the free seats under the government quota with effect from 2017-2018 academic year.

The Adi-Dravidar students admitted during 2017-18 challenged the order, following which the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court held that as the GO was passed during the middle of the academic year, it cannot be given effect from the beginning of the academic year. It would be effective only prospectively – from the 2018-2019 academic year, the court held.

But with the said payment failing to come through despite the court order, the students from the 2017-18 batch once again moved a plea seeking to quash the GO and direct the department to disburse the scholarship amount of Rs 85,000 as fixed by the Fee Committee for Adi-Dravida students.

When the plea came before him, Justice G Jayachandran noted that the court has already clarified that said GO cannot be given retrospective effect and added: “If the Government wants to prefer any appeal against the order of this court, they are at liberty to do so. But as on date, they are bound by the orders of this court and they cannot delay the payment any further.”

If the government had any doubt regarding the date of joining, the records can be verified before dispersing the scholarship. “In any event, none of the candidates who are entitled for the scholarship money shall be deprived of it beyond August 30,” he said.

Recording the submission of the special government pleader appearing for Adi-Dravida Department that there was some dispute regarding the date of joining, Justice Jayachandran said the department should have called for documents from the respective candidates and dispersed the amount after due verification. “They should not have waited so long and force the petitioners to approach this court.”