Supreme Court Takes Up Ayurvedic PG Students' Stipend Grievance Against Uttarakhand University
The Supreme Court of India has stepped into a contentious issue concerning postgraduate Ayurveda students in Uttarakhand. A bench comprising Justices Arvind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale has formally issued a notice to the Uttarakhand Ayurvedic University (UAU) based in Haridwar. This judicial intervention comes in response to a petition filed by fourteen postgraduate students who have raised serious allegations regarding the non-payment of their monthly stipends.
Petitioners Allege Arbitrary Denial and Differential Treatment
During the hearing conducted on January 20, the petitioners, who are postgraduate scholars from various batches enrolled at UAU's Gurukul campus, presented their case before the honorable court. They highlighted a troubling disparity within the institution. While certain postgraduate students receive monthly stipends as mandated by existing regulations, these fourteen petitioners claim they have been "arbitrarily denied the benefit" without any justifiable reason.
The core of their argument rests on the principle of equality. They contend that this "differential treatment has no rational basis" and directly contravenes the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Essential Standards, Evaluation and Rating for Postgraduate Institutions and Minimum Standards for Postgraduate Education in Ayurveda) Regulations established in 2024. The petition asserts that the university has unlawfully created two categories of postgraduate seats: stipend-paying and non-stipend-paying.
Financial and Psychological Impact on Students
The financial implications of this policy are stark. Students fortunate enough to be in the stipend-paying category reportedly receive between Rs 55,400 and Rs 62,100 per month. In contrast, the petitioners receive no financial support whatsoever, despite performing identical academic coursework and clinical duties. This discrepancy has led to significant distress among the affected scholars.
"This has created an institutional inferiority complex and caused mental distress," the petitioners stated in their submission to the court. They further alleged that despite repeatedly bringing this grievance to the attention of university authorities, no corrective measures were taken. This inaction, they argue, amounts to a violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all citizens.
Historical Context and University's Stance
The issue has a historical backdrop. Notably, on August 9, 2017, the Uttarakhand government clarified that the decision regarding stipends for students enrolled in self-financing MD/MS (Ayurveda) courses rested solely with the university administration. This set the stage for the current dispute.
Subsequent developments include a letter dated January 25, 2021, in which UAU itself sought financial assistance from the state government. The university requested support to provide scholarships or stipends to students admitted against an increased intake of nine seats under the state quota at its Rishikul and Gurukul campuses, and three seats under the All India quota at the Gurukul campus for the 2020-2023 academic session.
Following this, on February 3, 2021, the UAU counselling board made a critical resolution. It decided that a formal proposal seeking government approval and additional budgetary allocation should be submitted. Crucially, the board resolved that until such funds were officially sanctioned, these specific seats would be designated as non-stipend seats in the official seat matrix. Candidates selected for these seats were required to submit affidavits stating they would not claim stipends until further notice.
Regulatory Scrutiny and the Path to the Supreme Court
The matter gained further regulatory attention in December 2023. A student admitted to a non-stipend seat filed a formal complaint with the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) over the non-payment of the stipend. The NCISM, in turn, forwarded the complaint to UAU for clarification and also referred it to the state government's secretary for Ayush and Ayush education. The commission specifically requested that equal stipends be provided to all postgraduate scholars, underscoring the principle of parity.
With the university's response pending and the students' grievances unresolved, the matter has now reached the highest court in the land. The Supreme Court bench has sought a detailed response from Uttarakhand Ayurvedic University by March 17. This case highlights critical issues of educational equity, institutional responsibility, and the rights of students pursuing specialized fields like Ayurveda in India's higher education landscape.
