HC asks Centre, state to resolve scholarship fund dispute
A ray of hope has emerged for an amicable solution to the long-pending dispute between the Centre and Punjab over the disbursal of SC Post-Matric Scholarship funds to intended beneficiaries for the 2017-2020 period.
An amount of nearly Rs 930 crore remains unpaid to lakhs of students, who enrolled with private educational institutions in the state from 2017 to 2020.
During a recent hearing in a civil writ petition pertaining to disbursal of the funds, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on a suggestion made by the Additional Solicitor General of India and the Advocate General, Punjab, said the two would coordinate with the Centre and the state to amicably resolve the dispute.
In the past, the Centre had accused the state of illegally extending the scheme from 2017 to 2020, without any approval from it. During Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab, the Centre did not release its share as the scheme ended in 2016-2017 as part of the 12th Five-Year Plan, said sources. The Centre did not provide any funds between 2017 and 2020, accusing the state government of continuing the scheme for political gains. However, in 2021, the Centre restarted the scheme in 60:40 ratio. Prior to 2017, the funding between Centre and the state was in 90:10 ratio
When private educational institutions approached the high court over the pending dues, Punjab paid nearly 40 per cent of the scholarship amount to the students and demanded that the remaining 60 per cent be paid by the Centre.
