NEET 2026: Telangana HC allows student to participate in MBBS, BDS counselling as local candidate

Hyderabad: Granting interim relief to a NEET-UG candidate, the Telangana High Court recently allowed her to participate in the second phase of MBBS and BDS counselling as local candidate under the Competent Authority quota, subject to the final outcome of her petition.

Issuing directions in this regard to Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), the HC bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and G.M. Mohiuddin ordered, "Therefore, as an interim measure, the respondent-University would allow the petitioner to prrrticipate in the counselling process underway as a 'local candidate', subject to outcome of the result of the Writ Petition."

The matter has been listed for further hearing on 30.09.2026.

Case Background:

The HC bench passed these directions on a plea filed by a student hailing from Vikarabad, who had moved the High Court challenging her exclusion from the Telangana Scheduled Tribe quota for NEET-UG admissions for the academic year 2026-27.

According to the case details, the petitioner's parents belong to Larnbadis-28 (ST) Community, which is recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 and G.O.Ms. referred to therein. She has also studied for the last four years before the qualifying exam in institutions within the State of Telangana.

However, her name was shown in the notice dated 03.09.2026 issued by KNRUHS, in respect of the candidates availing undergraduate admission under Competent Authority quota for the academic year 2026-27, as one of those who are not entitled to derive the benefit of the Scheduled Tribe category of the State of Telangana as per the judgment of the Apex Court in Marri Chandra Shekhar Rao v. Dean, Seth G.S. Medical College.

Relying on the aforementioned judgment, the University submitted that the petitioner was in the list of candidates who had migrated from Karnataka and Maharashtra and were not entitled to the benefit of the Telangana ST reservation.

The University also relied on the letter dated 27.08.2026 addressed by the petitioner to the Registrar, Professor Jayashankar Agriculture University, Hyderabad, stating that she does not want to avail any of the benefits of the Telangana Scheduled Tribe category as her Caste falls under Scheduled Caste category in Karnataka State.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Government Pleader for the Social Welfare Department submitted that the Tahsildar, Vikarabad Mandal, was the competent authority for issuing the Community Certificates. He also sought time for filing a counter-affidavit.

Observations by High Court:

Taking note of the submissions, the bench noted that "it prima facie appears that by virtue of delegation of power by the Social Welfare Department and further by the Revenue Divisional Officer of the concerned District, the Tahsildar of Vikarabad Mandal, being the competent authority, has issued the Community Certificates dated 17.08.2026 and 28.08.2026 in favour of the parents of the petitioner that they belong to Lambadis-28 (ST) Community recognized by the Presidential Order applicable lo the State of Telangana. The Residence Certificate dated 04.06.2026 issued by the Tahsildar, Vikarabad Mandal, shows the petitioner as daughter of***, in whose favour the Scheduled Tribe Certificate has been issued by the Tahsildar, Vikarabad Mandal. Parentage of the petitioner is also shown in her educational certificates i.e., SSC and Intermediate, at page Nos.41 and 42."

"In the wake of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, when the parents of the petitioner***, have been given Scheduled Tribe status by virtue of the Community Certificates dated 17.08.2026 and 28.08.2026 of belonging to Lambadis-28 (ST) community within the State of Telangana and the Residence Certificate dated 04.06.2026 issued by the Tahsildar of Vikarabad Mandal, showing that the petitioner is the daughter of the same person, it would not be proper at this stage to deny the benefit of local status to the petitioner for participating in the ongoing second phase counselling process initiated on 11.09.2026 ending at 01:00 PM on 14.09.2026..., under the Competent Authority quota for the academic year 2026-27," it further noted.

Accordingly, as an interim measure, the bench directed the University to allow the petitioner to participate in the counselling process underway as a 'local candidate', subject to the outcome of the result of the Writ Petition.

Listing the matter for further hearing on 30.09.2026, the bench directed the University and Social Welfare Department to file counter affidavits in the meantime.

"The petitioner should also produce, at the time of admission, the Scheduled Tribe Certificate from the competent authority as belonging to Lambadis-28 (ST) community recognized by the Presidential Order applicable to the State of Telangana," ordered the Court.

To view the order, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/2026/09/28/-vs-uoi-477453.pdf

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