Telangana HC pulls up govt over pending scholarships for Minority, EBC students
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has taken serious note of the delayed release of post-matric scholarships for students from minority and economically backward communities, directing the state government to submit a detailed affidavit and action plan by 29 January 2026.
Going further into the details, a division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin, hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by ASEEM India and SIO Telangana, granted a final two-week extension to the government after it failed to file a counter-affidavit despite a three-week window given earlier.
The PIL highlights the non-implementation of scholarship schemes under Government Orders G.O.Ms.Nos. 26 and 66, dated June 30, 2008, and September 8, 2010. These orders mandate scholarships for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, Economically Backward Classes, Minorities, and Physically Challenged persons.
The petitioners have urged the court to direct the state authorities to immediately release all pending scholarships and reimburse tuition fees for eligible students. They also seek the establishment of a robust grievance redressal mechanism for students and colleges to resolve issues related to withheld certificates, delays, or discrepancies in scholarship distribution in a time-bound manner.
Further, the petitioners want the immediate release of original educational certificates retained by colleges on the pretext of pending dues, to protect student rights and prevent coercion. They ask for proactive disclosure of all relevant information on official websites, including sanctioned student lists, funds released, pending claims, and disbursement timelines, in compliance with Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005. Finally, they request that the system, guidelines, and criteria for releasing scholarship funds be placed on record to ensure transparency, timeliness, fairness, and non-discrimination in each quarter or academic session.
Meanwhile, the petitioners are advocating for students from Economically Backward Classes and minorities affected by the delay in disbursing scholarships and tuition fees.
During the hearing on January 5, 2026, the bench noted that no counter-affidavit had been filed by the state. Representing the petitioners, Advocate Syed Mounis Jafer Abidi (assisted by Advocate Syed Ghiyasuddin) argued the matter before the court.
Furthermore, the bench, while granting a final two-week extension as requested by the government pleaders, issued a warning, “If the counter affidavit is not filed within two weeks, costs shall be imposed on the next date.” The matter has now been listed for 29 January 2026.
The state was represented by the Assistant Government Pleader for Social Welfare and the Government Pleader for Finance and Planning.
Post-Matric scholarships delay
Notably, the PIL is the result of a year-long campaign by ASEEM (Association of Socio-Economic Empowerment of the Marginalized) and SIO Telangana, urging the state to release the pending scholarships under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme and the Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) scheme.
“Lakhs of students are suffering because of this delay,” said S.Q. Masood, Social Activist and Secretary of ASEEM India. “After exhausting all other avenues, we were compelled to approach the judiciary to secure the rights of these students.”
During proceedings, the petitioners’ counsel stressed the need for the court to direct the state to establish a grievance redressal mechanism. This would address colleges detaining students’ educational certificates due to non-payment of fees, a direct result of the scholarship delay.
Consequently, the court has directed the Minorities Welfare and Finance Departments to jointly prepare and submit their affidavit, which must include an action plan for the timely release of the pending and future scholarships.
