SC Upholds Telangana Domicile Rules for State Quota Medical Admissions
The Supreme Court of India has upheld Telangana’s domicile rules for admissions to medical and dental colleges under the State quota. The ruling confirms that only students who have studied for the last four years up to Class 12 in Telangana are eligible for state quota seats in MBBS and BDS courses.
A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran allowed the appeal filed by the Telangana government, affirming the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Rules, 2017, as amended in 2024. These rules had been challenged in court after previous orders raised questions about eligibility for students who lived outside the state for some period but met other criteria.
The Telangana High Court had earlier observed that permanent residents of the State could not be denied admission benefits solely because they had spent time outside Telangana. However, the Supreme Court clarified and reinforced that the four-year study requirement is valid for state quota admissions.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi and lawyer Sravan Kumar Karnam represented the Telangana government in the proceedings. The court’s verdict provides clarity for students seeking admission to medical and dental programs in the State, ensuring that domicile rules will continue to apply under the state quota system.
This decision emphasizes the importance of local education criteria in state quota admissions while balancing fairness and legal compliance. Students and parents in Telangana now have clear guidance on eligibility requirements for medical education under the state quota.
