The Supreme Court of India has struck down the provision of domicile-based reservations for postgraduate (PG) medical seats, deeming it unconstitutional under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. This landmark ruling ensures that admissions to PG medical courses will now be determined solely based on merit, as reflected in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) scores.
A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti delivered this significant judgment, reinforcing the fundamental right of all Indian citizens to seek educational opportunities across the country. The court stated, “We are all domiciles of India. There is no separate state domicile. Every Indian citizen has the right to choose where to live and pursue a profession anywhere in the country.”
Key Highlights of the Judgment:
- Constitutional Mandate: The ruling upholds the right of every Indian citizen to apply for admission in educational institutions across different states, reinforcing the principles of equality and fairness in higher education.
- Distinction Between Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education: While the Constitution permits states to provide reservations for their residents at the undergraduate level, the court clarified that this does not extend to postgraduate medical courses due to their specialized nature and national importance.
- Violation of Article 14: The provision for domicile-based quotas in PG medical education was deemed discriminatory and violative of Article 14, which ensures equality before the law.
- Preservation of Past Admissions: The ruling explicitly states that students who have already secured seats through domicile-based reservations or have completed their degrees under the system will not be affected by the judgment.
Background of the Case:
The legal battle began in 2019 when the Punjab and Haryana High Court first declared domicile-based reservations in PG medical courses unconstitutional. The case was subsequently brought before the Supreme Court, where a two-judge bench agreed with the previous verdict but referred the matter to a larger three-judge bench for a final decision.
This judgment is expected to have a significant impact on medical admissions across states, ensuring that merit prevails over regional preferences in postgraduate medical education. The decision is hailed as a progressive step towards fostering excellence in medical training and healthcare services nationwide.
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