NEET PG- Doctors to protest against Supreme Court verdict on domicile-based reservation

Chennai: Not satisfied with the Supreme Court's ruling against domicile-based reservations for postgraduate medical admission under the State Quota, the doctors have decided to stage a demonstration on March 16, condemning the apex court's judgement.

Through their demonstration, the Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association (TNMSA) along with the Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE) are going to urge the Union Government to bring a constitutional amendment to safeguard states’ rights in medical education. The association argued that scrapping domicile-based reservations would affect local medical students as it would limit their access to the state-run medical institutions.

"Join hands with us to Condemn the Honourable Supreme Court’s judgement, which is against domiciliary reservation in State Quota PG seats and to urge the union govt to bring a constitutional amendment to protect states’ rights in medical education on March 16 at 10 am near Rajarathinam Stadium," said the association in their poster.

Also read- NEET PG Admissions: Domicile-Based Reservation Unconstitutional!- Supreme Court

In January 29, Medical Dialogues reported that the Supreme Court held that domicile-based reservations for postgraduate medical admission cannot be allowed as it violates Article 14 of the Constitution. Therefore, holding such reservation system unconstitutional, the top court bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia and SVN Bhatti observed, "Residence-based reservation in PG medical courses is clearly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution."

Clarifying that providing domicile residence-based reservations in admission to State quota PG medical seats is constitutionally impermissible, the Apex Court bench held that such seats have to be filled up based on merit in the NEET exam.

"We are all domiciles in the territory of India. There is nothing like a provincial or state domicile. There is only one domicile. We are all residents of India. We have the right to choose residence anywhere in India and to carry out trade and profession anywhere in the country. The constitution also gives us the right to choose admission in educational institutions across India. The benefit of reservation in educational institutions, including medical colleges, for those who reside in a particular state can be given to a certain degree only in MBBS courses. But considering the importance of specialised doctors in PG medical courses, reservation in higher levels on the basis of residence would be violative of Article 14 of the Constitution," noted the apex court.

Condemning the apex court's directive, Dr. G.R. Ravindranath, General Secretary of Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE) told Medical Dialogues, "India follows a system where medical education is regulated at both the state and central levels. It is in the concurrent list. However, the Supreme Court considered that state quota PG medical seats should be opened to nationwide allocation without considering state reservations. Medical education is also a state subject, meaning states have a say in regulating their medical institutions."

Further, he added, "Currently, the central government is increasing its control over medical education and admissions, reducing state authority. This could impact public healthcare systems and government hospitals by limiting state-specific policies. If all seats are allocated nationally without protecting state reservations, it could harm state medical institutions. This is why we are demanding the protection of state government rights in medical education regulations. To emphasize this, we are organizing a protest on the 16th morning at 10 am near the Rajarathinam Stadium, Chennai."