In a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning long-pending post-matric scholarships for minority students, the Division Bench of the Telangana High Court, led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G. M. Mohiuddin, expressed strong displeasure over bureaucratic delays in the state government.
During a hearing, the court highlighted that bills related to scholarships for economically vulnerable students were stuck with the Finance Department, causing recurring hardships for students every year. Counsel for the petitioners, Advocate Syed Mounis Abidi, emphasized that despite multiple chances, the Finance Department had failed to submit any counter.
Advocate Abidi also pointed out that the requests for funds from the Minority Welfare Department were pending with the Finance Department. He noted that the Finance Department had not filed any counter as of yet. The bench underscored that bills for scholarships remained pending annually before the Finance Department, leading to delays that have a “cascading effect” on students.
Colleges have reportedly defied government circulars instructing principals not to withhold original certificates while awaiting reimbursement, leading to threats of stringent action going unenforced. The Division Bench expressed concern for affected students, remarking that retention of a certificate for a period of six months may cost an opportunity and cannot be compensated later.
The judges criticized the irony that students studying on scholarships due to an inability to afford fees are forced to approach a judicial institution for the release of certificates which are for non-payment of fees, incurring additional costs and litigation burdens. The court also questioned the government’s enforcement mechanisms, asking what actions were being taken to address these issues.
