In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has decreed that admissions to postgraduate medical courses across the country should be based strictly on merit, as determined by the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) scores. This decision reaffirms the court’s stance on upholding meritocracy in critical areas of education such as medical specialization.
The bench, comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and SVN Bhatti, articulated that residence-based reservations in PG medical courses contravene Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. “Residence-based reservation in PG medical courses is clearly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution,” Justice Roy stated during the proceedings.
The judgment specifies that while the ruling will enforce a merit-based selection process, it will not disrupt the current status of students who have already been admitted under various domicile quotas. This includes students who are presently enrolled in courses or those who have completed their courses under the residence category prior to this ruling.
Justice Dhulia highlighted the essential role of specialized doctors and the need for their selection through rigorous merit-based criteria. “Considering the importance of specialized doctors in PG medical courses, reservation at higher levels on the basis of residence would be violative of Article 14,” he remarked.
This decision is poised to reshape the landscape of medical education in India, ensuring that highly skilled and competent specialists are produced through a fair and competitive selection process. The bench also underscored the constitutional right of all Indians to seek education anywhere in the country, negating the concept of provincial or state domicile that restricts educational opportunities.
The ruling has been welcomed by many in the medical community who see this as a move towards enhancing the quality of medical education and healthcare services in India. However, it also raises questions about the balance between national integration and local needs in professional education.
