INDU S., KADAMPOLIL Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition is filed by the petitioner, a Post-Graduate student at Stella Maris College, Chennai, seeking to declare that the clauses in Exts.P7 and P8 notifications stipulating that students pursuing Post Graduate studies in Kerala alone are eligible for renewal of scholarship for the fourth and fifth years respectively, are applicable only at the time of initial selection of students for grant of scholarship during the first year of Degree course and not for renewal of scholarship for Post-Graduate studies, and for other related and consequential reliefs. Brief material facts for the disposal of the writ petition are as follows:

(2.) During Jan., 2010, the 3rd respondent, i.e., the Kerala State Higher Education Council, introduced 'the Higher Education Scholarship Scheme' produced along with a memo before this Court, with a view to attract meritorious students to the study of Arts, Science and Business Studies streams by giving scholarship for five years. The amount of scholarship for the first year is Rs. 12,000.00, Rs. 18,000.00 for the second year, Rs. 24,000.00 in the third year, Rs. 40,000.00 in the fourth year and Rs. 60,000.00 in the fifth year. As per the structure of the scheme, once the scholarship is granted to a student in the first year, it is only renewed annually during the succeeding four years depending on academic performance. Therefore, according to the petitioner, the number of scholarship awardees remains unchanged during the five year period. The initiative was born out of a realization that Kerala's success in terms of relatively better access to higher education has not been matched by comparable achievement in quality. By means of the scheme, the Government hopes to effect a qualitative change in the field of higher education and to promote higher education in order to create well-trained and socially sensitive citizens.

(3.) Petitioner joined for B.A. Economics in Sacred Heart College, Thevara in Kochi under the Mahatma Gandhi University, and petitioner was chosen for the scholarship for the year 2010-11, and it was renewed during the period 2011-12 and 2012-13, evident from Ext.P3 series of communications. After completing her B.A. Degree in Economics from Sacred Heard College, Thevara in Kochi, petitioner secured admission to M.A. Economics in merit quota in Stella Maris College, Chennai, under the University of Madras, during the academic year 2013-14.