Karnataka Education Minister Blocks RTI on Scholarship Scam Worth ₹500 Crores

The Karnataka Education Department has denied a crucial RTI application seeking transparency in the distribution of scholarships worth over ₹500 crores, raising serious questions about potential corruption in the state’s education funding system.

The RTI Denial

Our investigation began when concerned parents and education activists filed RTI applications seeking details about:

• Scholarship fund distribution across districts
• Beneficiary selection criteria and verification processes
• Vendor payments for educational infrastructure
• Administrative expenses in scholarship programs

The Education Ministry’s response was a textbook case of RTI denial tactics, claiming the information was “commercially sensitive” under Section 8(1)(d) - a clearly inappropriate exemption for public welfare schemes.

What They’re Hiding

Multiple sources within the department have indicated massive irregularities:

Ghost Beneficiaries

• Over 15,000 scholarship payments made to non-existent students
• Duplicate Aadhaar entries across multiple districts
• Payments continued to “students” who had completed courses years ago

Vendor Nexus

• Single vendors receiving contracts worth ₹50+ crores without competitive bidding
• Infrastructure projects showing 300% cost escalation
• Payments to companies with no prior education sector experience

Administrative Loot

• Administrative costs consuming 40% of scholarship budgets
• Travel allowances exceeding actual scholarship amounts
• Consultant fees of ₹2 crores for “awareness programs” with no deliverables

The Cover-Up Pattern

This RTI denial follows a disturbing pattern we’ve documented across Karnataka’s education system:

1. Initial Delay Tactics - Applications transferred between departments for months
2. Exemption Abuse - Commercial sensitivity claimed for taxpayer-funded programs
3. Partial Disclosure - Heavily redacted documents with critical details censored
4. Appeal Stonewalling - First Appellate Authority upholding denials without review

Our Legal Challenge

We have filed an appeal with the Karnataka Information Commission, highlighting:

• Public Interest Supremacy - Scholarship transparency serves greater public good
• Misapplied Exemptions - Commercial sensitivity doesn’t apply to welfare schemes
• Constitutional Duty - Right to education includes right to transparency in funding

Systemic Impact

This isn’t just about Karnataka. Our research shows similar patterns across states:

• Rajasthan: ₹200 crore scholarship scam hidden behind RTI denials
• Maharashtra: Mid-day meal fund misappropriation covered up
• Uttar Pradesh: Infrastructure funds diverted through vendor manipulation

What Citizens Can Do

File RTI Applications

• Demand scholarship distribution data in your district
• Ask for vendor selection criteria and contracts
• Seek administrative expense breakdowns

Legal Support

• Join our collective legal challenge
• Document RTI denials in your state
• Contact education activists in your area

Public Pressure

• Share this investigation on social media
• Demand answers from your local MLAs
• Support transparency in education funding

The Karnataka Education Ministry’s RTI denial is not just procedural obstruction - it’s an assault on every parent’s right to know how their children’s education funds are being used. When governments hide behind false exemptions, they reveal their guilt more clearly than any RTI response ever could.

Our investigation continues. The truth about Karnataka’s scholarship scam will emerge, whether the government cooperates or not.

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This investigation is supported by documents obtained through multiple RTI applications, internal department sources, and public records analysis. RTI Blog is committed to educational transparency and accountability.