The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for September 30 regarding the Telangana government’s challenge to a High Court ruling on medical admissions. The High Court had previously decreed that the state cannot deny benefits of medical college admissions to its permanent residents based on their residency or education outside Telangana.
The controversy stems from the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Rules, 2017 (as amended in 2024), which stipulate that only students who have completed the last four years of schooling up to Class 12 within the state are eligible for state quota seats in medical and dental colleges.
The apex court, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, stayed the High Court’s decision on September 20. This stay came after the state agreed to a one-time exception for 135 students who had petitioned the High Court over their ineligibility under the current rules.
Justice JB Pardiwala’s absence on Friday postponed the hearing, prompting the court to reschedule to the end of the month. During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the state, emphasized that similar residency requirements are enforced in other states like Assam and Haryana and have been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Conversely, Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the affected students, argued that the 16 petitioners, all permanent residents of Telangana who attended coaching in Andhra Pradesh, were unjustly excluded from the admission process under the existing regulations.
The Telangana government, in its appeal, argued that the High Court erroneously interpreted Rule 3(a) of the 2017 rules, amended in 2024. The state maintains that it has the legislative authority to set admission standards, including residency and domicile requirements, for its educational institutions.
“The high court’s judgement necessitates drafting new admission rules, a lengthy process that delays the admission cycle significantly,” the state’s plea highlighted. It argued that the current rules streamline the verification process, allowing students to present their educational certificates directly, avoiding bureaucratic delays.
