The Gauhati High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mamtaz Foundation seeking directions for immediate scholarship disbursement under various government schemes.
The foundation sought immediate disbursement of scholarship amounts under various government schemes, including Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship, Post Graduate Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC/ST Students, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, and National Fellowship for Persons with Disabilities.
The petitioner alleges that scholarship amounts haven’t been released to awardees without explanation. On June 19, 2024, the court granted the petitioner time to provide more specific details to support their claim, citing a lack of information on the number of affected awardees.
Mamtaz Foundation’s director submitted an additional affidavit stating selected awardees faced scholarship payment delays. Awardees cited Bank’s technical and manpower issues uploading documents, while institutions cited expired 24-month deadlines.
Reasons for Dismissal:
1. Lack of specific details on affected awardees.
2. Failure to explain delay (5-8 years) in approaching court.
3. Insufficient proof of awardees’ incapacity to access court.
Merits
1. Uniform reason for denial (bank’s technical issues) questionable.
2. Petitioner failed to satisfy Rule 10(i)(d) of Gauhati High Court PIL Rules, 2011.
The bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice N. Unni Krishnan Nair directed the dismissal of the PIL and said the awardees are free to pursue individual remedies.
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