HC orders Punjab Govt to release 40 pc of post-matric scholarship balance

Punjab post-matric scholarship: Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday ordered the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to release 40 percent of the post- matric scholarship balance which is around Rs 400 crore within three weeks of time period. 

While giving verdict in the matter of post-matric scholarship, High Court further warned that if amount will not be released till the next hearing of the case i.e. on May 25, then the Chief Secretary of Punjab’s post matric scholarship himself have to appear in High Court. 

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Notably, more than 3 lakh, 36 thousand Dalit students of around 1,855 private colleges of Punjab have an outstanding amount of Rs 1,084 crore on the post-matric scholarship. 

When questioned in the High Court, Punjab Government stated that the audit in the case is being conducted. 

The bench recorded that as per the successive affidavits, the payment has been made till the financial years 2016-17, 2020-21 and 2021-22. However, the payment for the financial years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 have not been paid despite the admitted fact that the proportionate payment has already been made by the Centre to Punjab.

Earlier, several students and officials of private colleges filed petition in Punjab and Haryana High Court against Punjab Government demanding the release of amount in post-matric scholarship scheme. 

It has been months that Punjab Government kept hanging the matter of post-matric scholarship, therefore High Court on Wednesday ordered to release 40 percent of post-matric scholarship balance within three weeks. 

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