Alld HC seeks Govt response over non-payment of prize money to student

The Allahabad High Court has sought response from the Uttar Pradesh Government on a student’s petition seeking payment of Rs 51,000 cash prize which she won during a district-level painting competition organised by the culture department nearly six months ago.

Hearing the petition filed by participant Diksha Mishra, a two-judge bench comprising Justices Saral Srivastava and Garima Prashad fixed April 23 as the next date of hearing in the case.

Diksha, a student, moved the High Court after she did not receive the prize money despite winning first place in a district-level painting competition.

According to the petition, various competitions were organised by the culture department of the State Government under the Seva Pakhwada-2025 programme from September 17 to October 2, 2025. A district-level painting competition was also organised in Prayagraj on September 29, the plea said.

During the court proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel contended that the petitioner won first place in the senior category, for which a cash prize of Rs 51,000 was announced for her. Despite winning the competition, the petitioner has not yet been paid the prize money, the counsel said.

The High Court in its order dated April 9, directed the additional chief standing counsel, representing the State Government, to obtain instructions (reply) from the relevant officials and submit it on the next date of hearing.