NTRUHS refutes MBBS admission irregularity allegations, cits seat allotment data for reserved categories

Vijayawada: Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) has rejected allegations of restrictions on category upgradation in MBBS admissions for reserved categories.

The university said that the MBBS seat allotment process for the 2026-27 academic year was conducted according to prescribed rules and regulations in the seat allotment process.

The university's response came after Liberation Congress president Kumar alleged that the university was using specially designed software to prevent Backward Class (BC), Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates from moving to the open competition category from the second round of counselling onwards, despite meeting the rank and eligibility.

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What is the allegation?

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday, Kumar alleged that candidates from reserved categories were being denied the opportunity to enter the open competition category even when they secured better ranks.

Further, he alleged that although these candidates accounted for more than 50 per cent of the merit list, nearly 90 per cent of those entering the open competition category from the second round onwards belonged to upper castes.

Kumar also alleged that the software allowed reserved category candidates to upgrade their colleges from the second round onwards but did not allow them to move to the open competition category.

He cited the example of a BC candidate who secured an MBBS seat under the reserved category at Guntur Medical College in the first round and argued that the candidate should be allowed to seek admission to other colleges based on their rank and preferences, including colleges that may have been available during the first round.

He criticized the government for failing to provide category upgradation to eligible candidates, alleging that this had resulted in an estimated 60 to 70 reserved category candidates losing opportunities.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Medical Parents’ Association president Dr Venkateswarlu alleged that the officials responsible for designing it were acting against the interests of reserved category candidates and disregarding Supreme Court judgments and state government orders.

He demanded action against the officials concerned and demanded clear rules to ensure transparency in medical admissions and prevent injustice to reserved category candidates.

NTRUHS rejects allegations, cites data

Responding to the allegations, NTRUHS registrar Dr T Sai Sudheer said in an official release issued on Wednesday that 3,543 MBBS seats, accounting for 77.34 per cent of the 4,581 convenor quota seats, had been allotted to SC, ST and BC candidates after three rounds of counselling.

The university also reported that meritorious candidates from reserved categories had secured 1,213 of the 2,026 open category seats, accounting for 59.87 per cent of the total.

As per TOI latest report, the registrar said that the number of open category seats allotted to meritorious students from reserved categories increased from 981 (51.57%) in 2025-26 to 1,213 (59.87%) in 2026-27.

In the press release, he refuted allegations that the implementation of Government Order (GO) 102 had resulted in injustice to reserved category students in MBBS admissions. He maintained that the university had followed the prescribed rules and regulations in the seat allotment process.

Explaining the procedure, he said "When meritorious students from reserved categories secured admission under the open category and subsequently relinquished their seats, the resulting vacancies had to be filled by students from the respective reserved categories in accordance with the prescribed rules. The university had followed this procedure."

The registrar further stated that SC, ST and BC candidates were entitled to admission under the constitutionally mandated reservation provisions, while meritorious candidates from these categories could also secure seats in the open category on the basis of merit.

He further clarified the mechanism for merit-based admissions and said seats under the Meritorious Reserved Category (MRC) were allotted in accordance with the rules and the web options submitted by students. The university had also apprised the Andhra Pradesh High Court of the procedure.

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