Plea in HC Challenges Reservation Policy for Admission of Local Candidates to PG Medical Courses, Notice issued to State, KNRUHS

Hyderabad: While considering a plea challenging the provision of reservation for local candidates for postgraduate medical admission for 2024-2025, the Telangana High Court bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao recently issued notices to the State Government and Kaloji Narayana Rao University for Health Sciences (KNRUHS).

The plea was filed by Dr. S. Satyanarayana and Dr. Rajitha, who challenged the validity of Rule VII(i) and (ii) of Telangana Medical Colleges (Admission into Postgraduate Medical Courses) Rules, 2021.

Approaching the HC bench, the petitioner challenged these rules arguing them to be arbitrary and discriminatory. Under these rules, admission to 85 per cent of the seats will remain reserved for local candidates.

Also Read: Accord local candidate status to medical aspirant: Telangana HC directs state, KNRUHS

As per the latest media report by The New Indian Express, the petitioner prayed to the Court for a declaration stating that he and other similarly placed students are treated as local candidates for admission to postgraduate medical courses in the State. It was argued by the petitioner that the current admission rules do not extend the benefit of local candidate status to those who studied outside of Telangana and are violative of Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination) of the Constitution of India.

After taking note of the arguments by the petitioner, the HC bench directed the State Government and KNRUHS to file their responses to the plea, while adjourning the same to November 12 for further hearing, Deccan Chronicle has reported.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently releasing the prospectus for admission into PG Medical Degree and Diploma Courses under Competent Authority Quota for 2024-2025, KNRUHS specified the eligibility conditions to be considered as a local candidate. These conditions are as follows:

i. A Candidate to be eligible for Admission into PG Medical Courses under these Rules should be an Indian National/Person of Indian Origin/Overseas Citizen of India card holder and be a local candidate:

ii. Local candidate means a candidate who has studied in the Educational Institutions in the state of Telangana as for a period of not less than four consecutive years ending with the academic year in which he appeared or as the case may be, first appeared in the relevant qualifying examination subject to

Explanation (a): A candidate who is regarded as a local candidate for the purpose of Admission into Undergraduate (MBBS) in the state of Telangana, but has studied in a State wide Institutions outside the state of Telangana, shall also be regarded as a Local candidate.

Explanation (b): A candidate, who has secured Admission to the relevant Undergraduate course (MBBS) under Non-Local Quota in the State of Telangana, shall not be regarded as Local candidate.

"Candidate should have passed MBBS/ Equivalent Degree examination from a Medical Institution in Telangana State/Siddartha Medical College, Vijayawada recognized by the National Medical Commission," the University further clarified in the prospectus.

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