(1.) Since both these petitions purporting to be PILs raise common issues of law and facts, the petitions were heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment. Broad Controversy
(2.) PIL 84 of 2008 is filed by a practicing advocate who challenges the
(3.) PIL No.254 of 2009 is filed by a person who claims to be intensely interested, and is involved, in issues relating to women and children. The petitioner is the wife of a retired Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department, Uttar Pradesh and hence has been travelling around the State and the places wherever her husband was posted. This petitioner has challenged the "Scheme of Pre-matric Scholarship for Students belonging to Minority Communities" issued by the Government of India in the Ministry of Minority Affairs on 1st April, 2008. The petitioner has prayed for a direction to the Central Government and to the Government of Maharashtra that the scheme may not be limited to students belonging to the minority communities and may be extended to students not belonging to the minority communities. In the alternative, the petitioner has prayed for a declaration that the scheme is unconstitutional.