The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has ordered the University of Peshawar to immediately release scholarship funds to students entitled under the Need-Based Scholarship Program (NBSP).
A two-member bench comprising Justice Mohammad Naeem Anwar and Justice Wiqar Ahmad issued the directions while deciding two identical petitions filed by several students, including Gohar Ali, over the non-payment of scholarships, stipends, and fee exemptions.
In its detailed seven-page judgment, the court also directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to arrange and release the remaining funds to the university in line with the scholarship program.
The bench made it clear that the university could no longer hold back the money.
“The University of Peshawar is further directed to immediately disburse all amounts already received, or to be received, from the Higher Education Commission to the entitled students. Such amounts shall not be retained by the University any longer,” the order stated.
The court observed that the students’ eligibility for the scholarship had never been disputed. It said the NBSP was created to support financially deserving students studying in public sector universities and financial difficulties could not be used as an excuse to deny them their due.
The judgment stressed that the program deserved priority because it helps underprivileged students complete their education and improve their future prospects.
During the hearing, lawyers for the petitioners argued that their clients had been properly enrolled at the university and were selected for the HEC-funded scholarship after completing the formal process.
They told the court that once selected, the students became entitled to full tuition fee exemption and monthly stipends under HEC policy for the full duration of their academic programs. Some of them had even received initial instalments before payments were stopped.
The petitioners’ counsel said the lists of successful candidates had been approved by HEC and funds were released to the university, but the University of Peshawar still failed to pass on the money. They alleged the payments were withheld on the pretext of financial constraints and diversion of funds for other purposes.
In its written response, HEC said it had already transferred the funds to the relevant financial quarters and informed the university accordingly.
The commission explained that under the program, selected students are entitled to a monthly stipend of Rs6,000 along with full tuition fee coverage, while students enrolled in five-year programs are funded for the entire duration of their studies.
HEC maintained that since the money had already been transferred, any delay or non-payment now fell within the domain of the University of Peshawar.
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