SC asks Centre to explain delay in disbursing scholarship amount to SC/ST students

The Supreme Court has asked the Central Government to explain the delay in disbursement of scholarship amount to SC/ST students even after the same having been sanctioned.

A Bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala also directed all states/union territories to appoint Nodal Officers not below the rank of Joint Secretary for coordinating the functioning of the District Magistrates, and Superintendent of Police, or other officers authorised by them, investigating officers and other officers responsible for implementing the provisions of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The top court lamented that despite repeated requests made by the Centre, almost 57,000 institutes have not responded to the survey being conducted by a National Task Force led by Justice (retd) S Ravindra Bhat set up by it on March 24, 2025, to address the mental health concerns of students and prevent suicides in Higher Educational Institutions.

It directed the Centre “to once again take up this issue very seriously and impress upon all these Institutes to cooperate.”

The latest order came on an application filed by Amicus Curiae and senior counsel Aparna Bhat seeking a direction to the Union of India, through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and all the State Governments and Union Territories through Department for the Welfare of the Scheduled Caste, to ensure timely disbursement of Post-Matric Scholarships to all eligible students without delay.

She also sought a direction to all the state governments and union territories that no student’s admission shall be cancelled, nor shall any student be denied the right to appear in any examination on account of delayed disbursal of the post-matric scholarship.

Bhat wanted the top court to direct all states/UTs to establish a time-bound grievance redressal mechanism for reporting and resolving scholarship denial or delay, with an escalation and oversight framework under the Ministry.

Asking Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj to take instructions regarding the reliefs prayed for by the Amicus Curiae, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing on November 14.

“We would like to know why there is a delay in disbursing the scholarship amount to the students once the application for the same is sanctioned,” it said.

“This entire exercise is being undertaken in the interest of the students and it is expected of all these Institutes to render their full cooperation and assistance to enable the National Task Force to finalise its interim Report if not final on the subject,” it said.

Senior counsel Harish Salve, who was present in the court, said that he would take up the issue with all the IITs across India and impress upon them to join the survey and render their cooperation to the National Task Force.

Bhat informed the Bench that some of the states/union territories have not appointed Nodal Officers of the rank of Joint Secretary in terms of the court’s March 24 verdict.

“The chart provided to us would indicate that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, the State of Himachal Pradesh, the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the State of Chhattisgarh, the State of Goa, the State of Andhra Pradesh, the State of Puducherry, the State of Maharashtra, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, the State of Arunachal Pradesh, the State of Karnataka, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the State of Bihar have appointed Nodal Officers below the rank of Joint Secretary,” it noted.

“We direct all the States/Union Territories to rectify this at the earliest and appoint Nodal Officers of the rank of Joint Secretary,” it said in its October 10 order.