SC/ST post-matric scholarship: HC directs central, state govts to reconsider decision

The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the central and state governments to reconsider the policy of not allowing SC/ST students to avail post-matric scholarship while joining courses under management quota in self-financing educational institutions.

The court gave the direction while dismissing PILs challenging a Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry communication in this regard.

Citing Supreme Court and Madras High Court judgments, a division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and N Seshasayee said, "...In the light of the limited scope of judicial review available to this court in respect of policy decision formulated by Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it is not in a position to quash the impugned policy decision/communication of the above ministry."
"...The ministry may revisit the issue once again... and after all, upliftment of SC/ST students is an avowed social objective and to avail post-matric scholarship, economical criteria is also fixed and therefore, there is no likelihood of misuse or abuse also."