Groundbreaking Ruling: Supreme Court Declares Residence-Based Reservations in PG Medical Courses Impermissible
The Supreme Court of India has declared that reserving postgraduate (PG) medical course seats based on state residency is unconstitutional. Led by Justice Hrishikesh Roy, the bench stated that such reservations contravene the principles of citizenship and equality enshrined in the Constitution. While some degree of institutional preference is allowed, reservations based on residence for PG courses violate Article 14, which guarantees equality before the law.
The ruling emphasized that although residence-based reservation may be acceptable to a certain extent for undergraduate medical courses like MBBS, at the postgraduate level, merit must take precedence. The decision arose from a case involving Chandigarh’s Government Medical College and Hospital, where 64 PG seats were reserved for local residents or those who completed their MBBS locally. The Supreme Court upheld the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s verdict that declared this practice legally flawed.
The Court underscored that all Indian citizens should have the freedom to live, work, and seek education anywhere in India, noting that PG medical courses require merit-based selection due to the critical role of specialist doctors. Restricting opportunities based on state residency would infringe on students’ fundamental rights and breach the equality guaranteed by Article 14. Hence, state quota seats in PG medical courses, aside from a limited number of institutional reservations, should strictly adhere to merit criteria in the All-India examination.
This landmark judgment reinforces the Constitution’s commitment to equality and non-discrimination, ensuring that PG medical education remains accessible based on merit, transcending state boundaries.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/01/29/impermissible-sc-rules-out-residence-based-reservation-in-pg-medical-courses/
Category : NATIONAL,News Alert
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Publish Date: 2025-01-29 22:06:00
