Terms Class 9–12 schooling clause “far removed from ground reality”; warns State to revise policy or face intervention
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has come down heavily on the Telangana Government’s domicile policy for medical admissions under the state quota, terming it “far removed from ground reality” and cautioning the State that if corrective action is not taken, the Court itself will step in.
The criticism pertains to the State’s existing rule requiring students to have studied Classes 9 to 12 within Telangana in order to qualify for state quota seats in MBBS/BDS through the NEET-UG exam.
“Students Should Not Be Penalised for Seeking Better Coaching”: SC
A bench of the Apex Court observed that many students move outside Telangana—particularly to coaching hubs like Kota—for quality education in Classes 11 and 12, and such students should not be denied state quota eligibility simply because they studied elsewhere.
“Students who go outside the State for better educational opportunities should not be penalised. If their parents are residents of Telangana, they deserve a shot at the state quota,” the bench observed, according to Law Trend.
The Court stated that students whose parents are permanent residents of Telangana should be allowed to apply under the state quota, regardless of the location of their secondary schooling.
Kerala-Telangana Comparison Highlights Policy Flaw
Appearing for the petitioners, Advocate Raghenth Basant pointed out the anomaly created by the existing domicile criteria. He argued that a child of a migrant from Kerala who studied in Telangana for four years could claim state quota benefits, while a student whose parents were born and lived in Telangana would be excluded just because they studied in another state.
He urged the Court to revise the definition of domicile to align with residency of the parents rather than the student’s location of schooling alone.
Supreme Court Seeks Telangana Government’s Reply
Posting the matter for further hearing on July 29, the Apex Court has directed the Telangana Government to submit its response to the issues raised.
The case involves more than 50 petitions challenging Rule 3(a) of the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Rules, 2017, as amended by a Government Order dated July 19, 2024. The rule mandates continuous study in Telangana from Classes 9 to 12 for eligibility under the domicile quota.
Background: High Court Had Favoured Resident Students
Previously, the Telangana High Court ruled in favour of students whose parents are permanent residents, stating they need not have studied in Telangana for four continuous years to claim state quota benefits. However, the State Government challenged this decision before the Supreme Court, leading to the present proceedings.
What Lies Ahead
As the next hearing is scheduled for July 29, all eyes are on how the Telangana Government will justify or amend its domicile policy—especially in the face of mounting legal pressure and increasing student unrest over the eligibility restrictions for MBBS and BDS seats.
