SC/ST scholarship scam: Nainital HC quashes SC commission order

DEHRADUN: The Nainital High Court , while hearing the matter of SC/ST scholarship scam in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, quashed the order of the National Schedule Caste commission which had granted relief to the joint director the social welfare scheme, Jeetram Nautiyal and had ordered the SIT to not arrest him. The HC imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Nautiyal for reaching out to the commission for a matter sub-judice in court.

In the multi-crore SC/ST scholarship scam, several colleges in Uttarakhand siphoned off money meant for reserved category students. Nautiyal is required to submit the amount to the Uttarakhand State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) within four weeks, failing which, the SLSA will recover the amount in accordance with law. The order was issued by a bench headed by chief justice Ramesh Rangnathan .

The HC had ordered all the accused in the scholarship scam to cooperate with the SIT in the investigation. Going against the order, Nautiyal had approached the National SC Commission, claiming the SIT was harassing him in the name of investigation. The commission then had ordered the state SIT not to arrest Nautiyal.