"Career Of Hundred Students At Stake": High Court Summons Top Punjab Govt Officers Over Non-Payment Of Scholarship Money To Panjab University

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has summoned top officials including Punjab's Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education along with the entire record to explain why the amount of Scholarship has not been paid to the Panjab University.

The case pertains to students whose degrees and certificates have allegedly been withheld by Panjab University (PU)  pending reimbursement of fees under the Post Matric Scholarship scheme for Scheduled Caste students.

Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri said, "Considering the seriousness of the matter whereby career of the hundreds of students is at stake by non-granting of Degrees for the last 4/5 years notwithstanding the fact that they have taken all the examinations, cleared the same and qua some of them results have been declared, this Court is of the considered view that it will be just and proper to direct the presence of the concerned officers of the State of Punjab."

Therefore the Court directed the Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Punjab, Principal Secretary, Department of Finance, Punjab and Principal Secretary, Scheduled Caste & Backward Classes Welfare Department, Punjab to remain present in the Court on the next date of hearing.

It further directed to present the entire record to explain why the amount of Scholarship has not been paid to the Panjab University.

The judge also noted that the Counsel representing the Union Government has stated that the money has been paid by the Union of India. However, the Court directed that any senior officer of the Union Government through the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment who is well acquainted with the facts of the case will also be present in the Court.

The Court was hearing the plea pertaining to students who have been denied the benefit of grant of their original Degrees and DMCs because of non-payment of examination fees i.e. for non-payment of money.

The money was to be paid by different Colleges which were affiliated with the University and the reimbursement was to be taken from the State by way of a Scheme which was formulated by the Government of India known as the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme.

In the previous hearing, the court had summoned PU's Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Registrar, who appeared through video conference and stated that decisions from the university's Senate and Syndicate would be placed on record.

After hearing the submissions, the Court took "a very serious view in view of the fact that the students have been permitted to take the examination and as per the learned counsel for the respondent-University so far as the present petitioners are concerned, even their results have been declared but original Degrees and DMCs have been withheld because of non-payment of money."

Justice Puri opined that, the Court "cannot shut its eyes towards what is happening because ultimately the career of the students is involved, more particularly when some of the students have not been granted their Degrees for the last 4/5 years."

"Panjab University, Chandigarh is not only an esteemed University but is also an instrumentality of the State. It is, therefore, necessary that some directions should be issued to the respondents in this regard," it added.

The judge noted that the reason which has been given by the University today is that the money was to be paid by the College which is a Government College and by other Colleges but ultimately the money has to come partly from the State of Punjab and partly from the Union of India.

As per the counsel for the Union of India, the money has been paid by the Union of India to the State of Punjab but the State of Punjab has further not paid. Counsel appearing for the Punjab Government was not aware of the facts, the Court noted.

While listing the matter for November 04, the Court said that "on the next date of hearing, this Court will also consider as to why the students who have not been granted their respective Degrees because of money be not compensated and as to who should compensate them by fixing of responsibility."

Title: JANAK RAJ AND OTHERS v. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

Mr. Yagyadeep, Advocate and Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Advocate, for the petitioners.

Mr. Subhash Ahuja, Advocate, for respondent No.4-University.

Ms. Gurmeet Kaur Gill, Senior Panel Counsel, for respondent No.6-UOI.

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