NEET PG: MP HC issues interim order on doctor's plea challenging conversion of vacant NRI quota seats

Indore: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the State Government to follow Rule 14(2) of the MP Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018, if there is no other legal impediment, while hearing a plea filed by a postgraduate medical aspirant seeking extension of NRI quota till the Stay Vacancy Round.

Rule 14(2) of the MP Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018 deals with the conversion of vacant seats in sub-categories during PG medical counselling. However, Rule 14(2) provides that vacant NRI seats are to be converted into unreserved seats without first exhausting the eligible NRI candidates.

Challenging this specific rule in the MP Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018, the petitioner argued that this differential treatment is arbitrary and discriminatory, as other sub-categories are not subjected to such direct conversion.

The petitioner contended that such seats should instead remain reserved for NRI candidates until the Stray Vacancy Round and has accordingly sought an extension of the NRI quota up to that stage.

Taking cognizance of the fact that the counselling process for PG medical admissions had already begun, the Division Bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi asked the State to seek instructions and, as an interim measure, directed it to adhere to Rule 14(2) during the ongoing counselling process if there is no other legal impediment.

"As an interim measure, it is directed that if there is no any other legal impediment, the respondent shall adhere to the provisions of Rule 14(2) of the M.P. Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018. List the matter on 25.02.2026," the court said.

During the hearing, senior advocate Ajay Bagadia, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that for now, they are only pressing for relief related to Rule 14(2) of the M.P. Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018. This rule was added through a notification issued on June 19, 2019.

The petitioner sought a direction that vacant NRI seats should not be converted into unreserved category seats without first adjusting eligible NRI candidates. The counsel also informed the court that the counselling process had already started.

As per the petition, the NRI quota was recognised as a sub-category under Schedule 2 of the Rules, along with other sub-categories. Under Rule 14(2), if candidates of a particular sub-category are not available after counselling rounds, the vacant seats are made available to the concerned category following a prescribed mechanism. However, Rule 14(2) provides that vacant NRI seats are to be converted into unreserved seats without first exhausting the eligible NRI candidates.

As per a latest Live Law report, it was stated that even in All India Counselling and other State counselling processes, seat conversion occurs only after eligible candidates of the respective category have been exhausted and in accordance with a prescribed conversion algorithm.

The petition asserted that Rule 14(2) was manifestly arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Once the NRI quota is recognized as a sub-category, it cannot be subjected to a separate and disadvantageous conversion mechanism.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 25, 2026.

To view the official court order, click on the link below: 

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