Telangana High Court Orders State Government to Disclose Scholarship Reimbursement Dues
The Telangana High Court, in a significant ruling on Tuesday, directed the state government to present comprehensive details regarding outstanding scholarship reimbursement dues owed to engineering colleges across the state. Justice EV Venugopal issued this directive while presiding over a batch of petitions that accused the government of wilful and deliberate inaction in releasing approximately 1,500 crore rupees in tuition fee arrears.
Petitioners Allege Government Malfeasance and Financial Strain on Colleges
Senior counsel L Ravichander, representing Keshav Memorial Institute of Technology, argued forcefully during the hearing. He contended that if a private individual owed such a massive sum, the courts would have imposed penalties on the defaulter. However, in this case, despite the issuance of "tokens" for cleared payments, the disbursements have been pending for over five years, exacerbating the financial crisis for the institutions.
The petitioners highlighted that under the government's own scheme, tuition fees for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes are supposed to be paid directly to the colleges. For Keshav Memorial Institute of Technology alone, the government owes a staggering 56 crore rupees, as claimed in the petition.
Budgetary Approval Without Payment Raises Concerns of Misappropriation
Counsel Ravichander pointed to government orders from 2024 that had already secured budgetary approval for about 1,500 crore rupees. He asserted that obtaining such sanction and then failing to make the payments constitutes misappropriation and malfeasance. He criticized the government for advancing what he described as "brazen defences" that contradict official records and previous assurances given to the court, attributing this to ignorance.
Furthermore, he emphasized the severe impact on the colleges, which are struggling to meet essential financial obligations. The institutions are required to pay salaries to faculty and non-teaching staff, as well as statutory dues such as Provident Fund (PF). Withholding these amounts, he argued, completely jeopardises the administration and operational stability of the engineering colleges, putting their future at risk.
The court's directive marks a crucial step toward addressing the long-standing issue, with the next hearing expected to scrutinize the government's response and potentially enforce accountability for the delayed payments.
