Bindusar v. Mr Prabhat Tyagi Chairman Cum Managing Director Nsfdc
$~101 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 28.04.2026 + BINDUSAR .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Furkan Ali Mirza and Mr. S.G.
Rabbani, Advs.
versus MR PRABHAT TYAGI CHAIRMAN CUM MANAGING DIRECTOR NSFDC .....Respondent Through:
Mr. Rakesh Sinha, Md. Gaulam Akbar and Mr. Jeemon Raju, Advs.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN DATTA SACHIN DATTA, J. (ORAL) 1.
Pursuant to the direction issued vide order dated 30.03.2026, passed in the present proceedings, a compliance affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondent. The same inter-alia reads as under: "4. I say that be that as it may, pursuant to the order dated 30.03.2026 in the subject matter, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India has decided to honor and comply with the directions issued by the Hon'ble Court vide order dated 07.01.2026 passed in Writ Petition (Civil) No.40/2024 and have issued a letter dated 20.04.2026 to the Chairman-CumManaging Director of the Respondent with the approval and direction to release the fellowship of the Petitioner (Student ID: UP02003308). For ready reference of the Hon'ble Court, a copy of the letter dated 20.04.2026 is appended hereto and marked as DOCUMENT-R-1/2.
5. I say that the Respondent most humbly submit before the Hon'ble Court that subject to the aforesaid approval and direction from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India vide letter dated
20.04.2026, the Respondent herein in due compliance of the order dated 07.01.2026 passed in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 40/2024 and also in due compliance of the order dated 30.03.2026 passed in the subject matter have taken all necessary and vital steps ensuring swift compliance for the release of the arrears of the fellowship amount to the Petitioner at the earliest. It is pertinent to mention herein that the Respondent to ensure due compliance of the above stated orders of the Hon'ble Court for releasing the arrears of the fellowship amount and to continue to pay the same in accordance with the fellowship award letter dated 20.09.2022 and have taken the following actions which are enumerated as under:
5.1 The linking request submitted by Aligarh Muslim University ("AMU") on Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal ("SFMP") earlier had been accepted subsequently and approval from the competent authority i.e. CMD, NSFDC.
5.2. As per the NFSC scheme guidelines/ SFMP portal, usually University/Institutions submit claims by the 15th of every month. In present case, the Respondent has requested the AMU Nodal Officer to initiate an "exception request" for submission of the claim beyond the normal claim period (i.e. after the 15th of the month), in the present case it is "arrear". Subsequently, it will be approved by the Respondent on SFMP Portal. 5.3. Thereafter, the Nodal Officer of Aligarh Muslim University will initiate an exception request for arrear payment, which will be approved by the Respondent. (Action by AMU and the Respondent on SFMP Portal). 5.4. Subsequently, the University Nodal Officer will mark the payment confirmation through Maker ID and approve the same using the Checker ID of the University. (Action by AMU on SFMP Portal). 5.5.
After payment confirmation by the University, Canara Bank will be requested to generate a separate payment file in respect of Sh. Bindusar.(Action by Canara Bank on SFMP Portal). 5.6. The generated payment file for fellowship and other components will be 5.7 Once the arrears are released, the monthly fellowship will start and continue as per eligibility.
The arrears of the fellowship amount and to continue to pay the same in accordance with the fellowship award letter dated 20.09.2022, the Respondent have taken all the necessary and vital steps in the SFMP Portal of Canara Bank. Similarly, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) also needs
to verify and approve the same as per NSFC guidelines and thereafter, the payments will be credited as per the timeline.
6. I say that the Respondent herein invites the kind indulgence of the Hon'ble Court regarding the minor delay in disbursing the arrears of fellowship amount is on account of the fact that the Respondent is merely an implementing agency under the 'National Fellowship Scheme to SC Students' of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. The Respondent is only conduit for release of payment through SFMP. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the approving authority, hence a number of letters/ emails dated 04.02.2026, 27.02.2026, 06.03.2026, 18.03.2026, 23.03 .2026, 28.03.2026, 30.03.2026, 09.04.2026 & 15.04.2026 were sent to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to immediately comply with the orders of the Hon'ble Court.
After continuous vigorous follow up with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, approval vide Letter dated 20.04.2026 has been received (Kindly refer Document-R-l/2). Thereafter, the process of release of arrears on the SFMP portal has been initiated. The Respondent has made a request on the SFMP portal for release of the fellowship amount and now claim is awaited to be made by AMU pursuant which the fund will be released as per the procedure.
7. I say that the delay, if any, so occurred in releasing the arrears of fellowship amount to the Petitioner pursuant to the orders of the Hon'ble Court dated 30.03.2026 is on account of the aforesaid factors and is not on account of any action not taken by the Respondent herein. The Respondent herein had timely informed the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and was awaiting for the approval from the said Ministry. The Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment had approved the release of the fellowship amount to the Petitioner pursuant to the order dated 30.03.2026 vide letter dated 20.04.2026 and accordingly, the Respondent herein had initiated all the necessary and vital steps to comply with the order dated 30.03.2026 passed by the Hon'ble Court in the present proceedings.
Thus, in view of the above submissions and based on the same, the Respondent herein craves the kind indulgence of the Hon'ble Court in its wisdom to condone the delay, if any, in releasing the arrears of the fellowship amount to the Petitioner by the Respondent as the approval was awaited from the MOSJ&E and now since the approval has been granted by the MOSJ&E, the process for the disbursal of the arrears of the fellowship amount has been initiated by the Respondent.
8. I say that the Respondent herein had taken all the initiatives to comply with the directions issued by the Hon'ble Court pursuant to the order dated 30.03.2026 and accordingly, request the Hon'ble Court to not to
initiate any contempt proceedings against the Respondent as the Respondent is complying with the directions of this Hon'ble Court and the process in this regard has already been initiated by the Respondent, hence this contempt petition may be dismissed."
2.
During the course of hearing, it is assured and undertaken that the requisite payment to which the petitioner is entitled shall be released after expeditiously following the procedural requirement/s as set out in the compliance affidavit. Let the same be done latest within a period of four weeks from today.
3.
The petition is disposed of in the above terms. 4.
In the event of any lapse /delay on the part of the respondent, the petitioner shall be entitled to revive the present petition. 5.
It is made clear that any breach / delay on the party of the respondents in ensuring requisite release to the petitioner shall be construed as breach of orders passed by this Court entailing action under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
6.
List for reporting compliance on 19.08.2026.
SACHIN DATTA, J APRIL 28, 2026/cl