Punjab Implements new Rule, Only Domicile candidates Eligible for MBBS, BDS admissions under State quota seats

Faridkot: Taking note of the controversies and litigations over bona fide Punjab residents, the State Government has implemented a new rule as per which only the domicile candidates of Punjab will be eligible for the State quota MBBS/BDS seats in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

The confirmation in this regard has come from the Registrar of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), IAS officer Dr Nirmal Ouseppachan who told The Tribune, "As per the new eligibility condition, only those candidates shall be considered for the state quota who have mentioned 'Punjab' as their residence state in their NEET-UG form."

Such a decision has been taken by the State as for the last few years several students belonging to the neighbouring states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh got admitted to the medical and dental colleges of Punjab under the State Quota seats. They could avail the option since they had cleared their XI and XII from Punjab. 

The medical seats are divided among the State quota and central quota seats and the states have separate eligibility criteria as well for protecting the rights of its actual residents for availing the state quota seats. Such mandatory criteria include mandatory period of schooling and fixed period of residence etc.

Bona fide domicile certificate certifies that a person is a resident of a particular place since they have transferred or stayed at a house at a particular address.

Also Read: BFUHS asks MBBS candidates to submit affidavit on bona fide residence

Since the students belonging to the Neighbouring States were availing the State quota seats in Punjab on the ground of clearing their XI and XII exams from the State, this was resulting in several litigation and court cases.

The reason for the pending litigations is the fact that the students were applying for the State quota seats in Punjab and the other states at the same time. However, this is a violation of the rules since a candidate can avail the benefit of domicile only in one State at one time.

Medical Dialogues had reported last year that taking note of the problem, BFUHS had directed all the MBBS/BDS candidates and their parents to submit affidavits stating that they were not claiming the benefit of residence anywhere else other than Punjab, except for central counseling.

In fact, last year BFUHS had sacked around seven medical students as they had allegedly availed the benefit of domicile in more than one State by submitting false information.

As per the latest media report by Tribune India, taking note of the pending litigations over bona fide Punjab residents, the State Government on August 25 has notified that only those candidates who have mentioned Punjab as their domicile in the NEET-UG entrance test would be eligible for MBBS/BDS admission in the State quota seats.

In case of Punjab, 15 percent of the total 1,650 MBBS seats in 11 medical colleges and 1,350 BDS seats in 16 dental colleges are reserved for the all-India quota.

Also Read: BFUHS Invites Online Applications For Post MBBS DNB Degree, Diploma Courses, Check out application process, schedule, eligibility criteria, admission details here