Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand, Rajasthan High Court
Scholarships Are More Than Financial Aids; They Are Life Changing Opportunities: Rajasthan High Court
|The Rajasthan High Court observed that person seeking scholarship cannot be compelled to resign unless provisional selection letter for scholarship was received.
The Rajasthan High Court highlighted that scholarships are more than the financial aids; they are life changing opportunities.
The Court observed thus while considering a writ petition challenging rejection of application of the Petitioner seeking scholarship under the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Academic Excellence Scheme.
A Bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand observed, “Scholarship helps the students to pay for the education by providing financial assistance. The grant of Scholarship may help some of the students and their families to bridge the financial gaps. The Court said that education has become one of the most valuable and costly pursuits in today’s society. Scholarships emerge as the most preferred kind of financial help in this situation. Scholarships are more than the financial aids; they are life changing opportunities. They empower the needy, deserving and brilliant students to dream, their parents to hope and the communities to grow. Scholarships cater the deserving and worthy students with different strengths, needs and ambitions.”
Advocate Nikitha Bhandari represented the Petitioner, Advocate Sachin Rathore represented the Respondents.
Case Brief
A Writ Petition was filed by the Petitioner challenging the order by the Respondents wherein the application of the Petitioner seeking scholarship under the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Academic Excellence Scheme was rejected.
Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for Academic Excellence Scheme is an initiative of the Government of Rajasthan, for the students planning to pursue the Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Ph.D., and Post-Doctoral research programs abroad. All tuition fees and living expenses are received by the selected students.
The Government of Rajasthan has allocated 200 seats for awarding Scholarships each year. However, it was strictly clarified that any sort of false/ misleading information provided during the application process, shall lead to the disqualification of the candidates.
The Petitioner submitted the scholarship in May, 2024, however, despite curing the objections raised by the respondents in his application in a timely manner, the Respondents rejected.
The Respondent contended that the Petitioner was in service and he has not resigned from his institution, prior to one month of commencement of the course.
Court’s Analysis
The High Court emphasized the issue of rising prices of higher education. Scholarship helps the students to pay for the education by providing financial assistance. The grant of Scholarship may help some of the students and their families to bridge the financial gaps. The Court said that education has become one of the most valuable and costly pursuits in today’s society. Scholarships emerge as the most preferred kind of financial help in this situation.
“Scholarships are more than the financial aids; they are life changing opportunities. They empower the needy, deserving and brilliant students to dream, their parents to hope and the communities to grow. Scholarships cater the deserving and worthy students with different strengths, needs and ambitions”, the Court added.
With regard to the contention of the Respondent that the Petitioner had to resign from his services one month prior to his selection, the Court remarked, “This Court is unable to understand as to how a person, like the petitioner, is expected to resign/submit the relieving letter prior to his selection…The record reveals that several objections were pointed out by the respondents, and the petitioner has also partially rectified/cured the same. Instead of raising several objections on different dates, the respondents could have raised all kinds of objections on the first date, i.e., 05.07.2024, hence, delay has been caused on the part of the respondents due to which the petitioner has been deprived from receiving the benefits of the scholarship and the petitioner has been made to suffer for no fault of his own.”
Consequently, the Court opined that Until the petitioner receives provisional selection letter in his favor for getting scholarship, he cannot be asked and compelled to furnish the relieving letter/tender his resignation from the company where he was working/ serving.
Accordingly, Writ Petition was disposed of.
Cause Title: Aditya V. State of Rajasthan
Appearance:
Petitioner: Advocate Nikitha Bhandari
Respondent: Advocates Sachin Rathore, Divanshu Gupta and S.S. Naruka (AAG)