NEET: SC slams Telangana's domicile policy, says students who go outside state seeking better education shouldn't be penalised

New Delhi: The Supreme Court recently criticised the Telangana Government's domicile policy for the State quota medical seats, calling it "far removed from ground reality."

As per this policy, to be eligible for admission to state quota seats through the National Eligibility-Entrance Test (NEET), a student must have pursued Classes 9 to 12 in the State. While faulting the policy, the top court bench warned that if the Government did not fix the issue, the Court would intervene.

The Apex Court bench observed that many students move to places like Kota for better coaching in Classes 11 and 12, and they should not be denied Telangana state quota medical seats merely because they studied outside the State.

Also Read: Telangana domicile quota for MBBS admissions: SC seeks state's response

As per the latest media report by India Today, the top court bench ruled that the students whose parents are residents of Telangana should be allowed to apply under the State quota, no matter where they completed their schooling.

"Students who go outside the state for better educational opportunities should not be penalized. If their parents are residents of Telangana, they should not be denied a shot at state quota seats simply because they studied elsewhere," the bench observed, Law Trend has reported.

Advocate Raghenth Basant was representing the students who were facing the domicile bar despite their parents being born in Telangana and continuously residing in the State.

He submitted before the bench that the domicile policy had created a piquant situation. He pointed out that a child of someone from Kerala, who has lived in Telangana for just for four years and studied Classes 9 to 12 there, would be qualified for the State quota medical seats, whereas the students whose parents are long-time residents of Telangana would be denied the same opportunity because such students studied outside the State.

Therefore, he urged the top Court bench to modify the domicile criteria by allowing children of every resident of Telangana, irrespective of where they completed their schooling, to get admitted to medical colleges under the State quota seats.

Posting the matter for further hearing on July 29, the Apex Court bench has asked the Telangana Government to file its response to the Court's query.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that previously, the domicile policy was challenged before the Telangana High Court, which had held that the permanent residents of the State did not need to study in Telangana for 4 continuous years for MBBS and BDS admission in the domicile quota seats. However, challenging the HC order, the State had approached the top court bench.

More than 50 pleas were filed before the Telangana HC challenging the validity of Rule 3(a) of the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission (Admission into MBBS & BDS Courses) Rules 2017 as amended vide the GO dated July 19, 2024, which made it mandatory for the MBBS and BDS aspirants to study continuously from Classes 9 to 12 in the State.

Also Read: Telangana Local Quota in Medical Colleges- Supreme Court to Consider Matter