Supreme Court Ruling: Residence-Based Reservation in PG Medical Courses Violates Article 14

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that domicile-based reservations for Postgraduate (PG) medical courses are unconstitutional, as they violate Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.

The bench, comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti, declared that providing residence-based quotas for PG medical courses, even within state quotas, is impermissible. This ruling marks a significant shift in how medical college admissions are structured in India.

What Does the Ruling Say?

The Court ruled that admissions to PG medical seats must be based purely on merit, as determined by the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The bench emphasized that residence-based reservations can only be permitted for MBBS courses, not for postgraduate levels, where specialization and expertise are critical.

Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, reading out the reasoning, stated that there is no such thing as "provincial or state domicile" under the Constitution, noting that every Indian citizen has the right to reside anywhere in the country, and by extension, the right to seek admission to educational institutions across India. He added that introducing residence-based reservations at the PG level could hinder the country's ability to train specialized medical professionals.

What Does This Mean for Students?

The Supreme Court's judgment will have immediate implications for PG medical admissions. As per the ruling, students seeking admission to PG medical courses will now be required to compete based on merit, rather than benefiting from state-specific domicile quotas.

However, the Court made it clear that this judgment will not impact students who are currently enrolled in PG courses under the domicile quota. Students who are already pursuing PG studies or those who have completed their courses under the reservation system will not be affected by the ruling.

The Broader Impact

This ruling may be seen as a step towards ensuring equal opportunities for medical aspirants across India. With this decision, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the importance of merit in educational admissions, particularly in fields like medicine where specialization is key to providing quality healthcare.

It also signals a more uniform approach to medical education, ensuring that talented students from all over the country can access opportunities to pursue postgraduate education without being limited by state-based reservations.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's decision to eliminate domicile-based reservations in PG medical courses is a significant development in the Indian education system. By reinforcing the importance of merit and equal opportunity, the Court has upheld the constitutional principle of equality, making it clear that residence-based quotas should not extend to postgraduate medical admissions.

While this judgment does not retroactively affect students already benefiting from such reservations, it sets a strong precedent for future admissions in PG medical courses, ensuring that they are governed by merit and not by geographic origin.