The Supreme Court of India firmly dismissed the Punjab government’s plea to expand the NRI quota in medical colleges, following a prior rejection by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The apex court’s decision echoed the sentiments expressed during the proceedings: “This fraud must end,” referring to the attempt to widen the quota to distant relatives of NRIs.
The controversy began when the Punjab and Haryana High Court overturned a Punjab government notification that sought to redefine NRI quota eligibility. The High Court’s bench, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal, found the state’s attempt to include distant relatives such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins under the NRI category to be “arguably unjustified.”
This ruling was based on the premise that the NRI quota should specifically benefit genuine NRIs and their immediate family members, ensuring they have access to medical education in India. The court criticized the Punjab government’s August 20 notification for opening doors to potential misuse and diluting the merit-based admission process by allowing more distant relatives to qualify as guardians for admission purposes.
Adding to the controversy, the issue was brought to the apex court after a plea by medical aspirants, including Geetan Verma, against the sudden change in admission criteria established shortly after the release of the medical admission prospectus on August 9. They contended that the changes were introduced arbitrarily through the notification on August 20, hindering fair admission practices.
