ORDER:

The present writ petition has been filed against a letter issued by the respondent Nos.1 and 2/Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 28.10.2024 directing the petitioner to repay the scholarship amount which was disbursed to the petitioner under the National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) for Scheduled Tribe (ST) Students for a Post- Doctoral Fellowship. The impugned letter tabulates the scholarship component and the amount paid to the petitioner which is INR 15,21,651.00.

2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the demand for recovery has been made against the Guidelines framed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and that the respondent Nos.1 and 2 have a discretion in the matter of recovery of the scholarship amount awarded to the petitioner. Counsel submits that the recovery, if at all, can only be made of the unspent amounts.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent Nos.1 and 2 submits that the petitioner’s failure to repay the scholarship amount would fall under Guideline 7 which contemplates cancellation of the Award.

4. Upon hearing learned counsel appearing for the parties, the only issue which falls for consideration