The Peshawar High Court has ordered the University of Peshawar to immediately release scholarship funds to students entitled under the Need-Based Scholarship Program (NBSP), providing relief to financially struggling students.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Mohammad Naeem Anwar and Justice Wiqar Ahmad issued the directives while deciding two identical petitions filed by several students, including Gohar Ali, over the non-payment of scholarships, stipends, and fee exemptions.
In its seven-page judgment, the court also directed the Higher Education Commission to arrange and release the remaining funds to the university in line with the scholarship program.
The bench ruled that the university could no longer withhold funds meant for deserving students and ordered immediate disbursement of all amounts already received, or to be received, from HEC.
The court observed that the students’ eligibility for the scholarship had never been disputed, adding that financial difficulties could not be used as a justification to deny students their due rights.
According to the judgment, the NBSP is aimed at supporting financially deserving students studying in public-sector universities and should be prioritized to help underprivileged students complete their education.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that the students had been duly selected for the HEC-funded scholarship after completing the required process, making them eligible for full tuition fee exemption and monthly stipends throughout their academic programs.
The petitioners informed the court that some students had received initial installments before payments were abruptly stopped, despite funds being approved and released by HEC.
The lawyers further alleged that the university withheld payments citing financial constraints and diverted funds for other purposes.
In its written response, HEC stated it had already transferred the funds to the relevant financial quarters and informed the university accordingly.
Under the scholarship program, selected students are entitled to a monthly stipend of Rs6,000 along with full tuition fee coverage, while students enrolled in five-year degree programs receive funding for the entire duration of their studies.
HEC maintained that since the funds had already been transferred, any delay or non-payment now falls within the domain of the University of Peshawar.
