Laxminarayan Dhirhe v. Union Of India & ORS.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ W.P.(C) 10628/2025 LAXMINARAYAN DHIRHE .....Petitioner Through:

Mr.

Sushant Singh, Mr.

Gaurav Govinda, Mr.

Kunal Awana, Mr.

Abhinav Arora, Ms. Aana Sharma, Mr. Amit Kumar, Mr. Anurag Mehta, Mr. Neeraj Dahiya and Mr. Hitesh Yadav, Advs.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

.....Respondent Through:

Mr.

Farman Ali, SPC with Mr.

Hussain Adil Taqvi, GP and Ms.

Usha Jamnal, Advs. for UOI.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS MAHAJAN

O R D E R

% 06.08.2025 1.

The present petition has been filed seeking following relief: "(a) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction directing the Respondents to immediately issue provisional award letters and release scholarship funds to the petitioner under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) Scheme for the academic year 2025-26, as per the final selection list dated 01.07.2025; (b) Declare that the withholding of scholarships to the petitioner despite their inclusion in the merit list and availability of allocated funds, is arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Articles 14, 15(4), 21, and 46 of the Constitution of India;

(c) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate direction commanding the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to frame transparent, fair, and time-bound guidelines governing the approval and disbursal of funds, and to ensure non-discriminatory implementation of the NOS Scheme in the future;"

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 11/08/2025 at 12:47:53

2.

The only grievance articulated in the present petition was that the petitioner has not been considered for the scholarship, under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) as SC candidates in terms of the policy. 3.

Mr. Farman Ali, learned SPC had appeared on behalf of Union of India on the last date and sought time to seek instructions. 4.

Mr. Ali has handed over a copy of the instructions received by him across the bar, the same are taken on record. A perusal of said instructions shows that with the approval of the competent authority, provisional award letters have been issued on 25.07.2025 to all 106 selected candidates including the petitioner herein.

5.

He has also handed over a copy of provisional award letter dated 25.07.2025 pertaining to the petitioner, a copy of which has been given to the petitioner's counsel in the Court. The said letter is also taken on record. 6.

The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the issuance of provisional award letters is to be followed by issuance of final award letter, therefore, necessary direction may be given to the respondent to expedite the entire process.

7.

In view of the fact the Government has already taken a decision to award scholarship to the petitoner, the respondents are directed to expedite the entire process and issue the final award letter in favour of the petitioner, preferably within a period of two weeks.

8.

The petition stands disposed of in the above terms. VIKAS MAHAJAN, J AUGUST 6, 2025/N.S. ASWAL The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 11/08/2025 at 12:47:53