SC panel orders probe into alleged irregularities in disbursal of post matric scholarships in Punjab

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in disbursal of post matric scholarships for Scheduled Caste students in Punjab. The probe will be headed by a retired high court judge.

"We have sought a list of retired judges to institute an independent probe into administrative lapses in disbursement of post-matric scholarships to SC students in Punjab," NCSC chairman Vijay Sampla said in New Delhi on Thursday.

According to NCSC estimates, about 200,000 Dalit college students in Punjab dropped out over the last two years as the state did not pay them scholarships. Around 300,000 students benefited from the scheme in 2017 but it was less than 125,000 in 2020.


The 'irregularities' came to light in 2020 when additional chief secretary (social justice) Kirpa Shankar Saroj submitted a report against minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, a member of the Amarinder Singh's Cabinet. Saroj's report alleged the department had gone against government policies to 'benefit' certain educational institutions and 'siphoned' off money for SC students' scholarship. The report red-flagged payments made through cheques, instead of RTGS, flouting an HC order which had ordered payments to an institution and private technical colleges to be stopped as they had crores of dues pending.

"We have been following up with the state on the steps taken to ensure SC students are not harassed by colleges, but so far, we have not received any satisfactory response," Sampla said.