Synopsis
The Delhi High Court has instructed the city government to determine the payment release for coaching institutes under the "Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojna" aimed at assisting underprivileged students in competitive exams.Key Takeaways
- Delhi High Court mandates decision on payments.
- Coaching for SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates under scrutiny.
- Institutes claim non-receipt of funds.
- Payments contingent upon verification by authorities.
- Petitioners provided a chance for a hearing.
New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has directed the city government to make a decision regarding the disbursement of funds to institutions providing coaching for competitive exams under the "Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojna".
A bench led by Justice Sachin Datta was reviewing a petition that sought enforcement of the scheme designed to deliver quality coaching to economically disadvantaged candidates from SC/ST/OBC/EWS backgrounds.
This initiative stipulates that the Delhi government’s Department for the Welfare of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities will cover the coaching fees for enrolled students.
As per the scheme, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was established with the relevant institutes detailing the duration, courses, fee structures, eligibility criteria for candidates/students, and funding arrangements.
The petitioning institutions claimed that they had not received even the initial installment, which accounts for 50 percent of the course fees from the city government.
Despite repeated grievances addressed to the responsible authorities, the petitioners reported a lack of response.
Feeling aggrieved, they sought judicial intervention for a directive on the release of their entitled payments under the scheme and the MoA. They argued that the authorities seemed to be selectively disbursing funds, as some institutions had received payments dating back to 2022, while their claims remained unaddressed.
The Delhi government acknowledged its obligation to make the payments but stated that disbursement was contingent upon thorough verification and the provision of necessary information by the institutions as required by the relevant department.
Observing that the Special Secretary had convened a meeting on December 13 to address the issue, the Delhi High Court ruled that each petitioner would be given a chance to present their case, and a decision regarding their financial entitlements would be made following proper verification.
After the petitioners committed to submitting all pertinent documents, the court ordered that this process be finalized within five weeks.
"These documents will be reviewed by the DSCST, and a hearing will be scheduled by the Special Secretary for the petitioners within four weeks afterward. Any payments deemed due will be released immediately," the Delhi HC instructed.
The court clarified that if the petitioners were found to be ineligible for payment, or if any deductions were required, a detailed order would be issued explaining the reasons.
"It is anticipated that the DSCST will take swift action to resolve the grievances of the petitioners and ensure that the objectives of the scheme are upheld. Should the petitioners find the outcome unsatisfactory, they reserve the right to seek additional remedies," the court concluded.
