Supreme Court Cancels Domicile-Based PG Medical Quotas

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts:

1. The Supreme Court canceled domicile-based reservations for PG medical courses.
2. It ruled that such reservations violate Article 14 of the Constitution.
3. The decision came in response to a 2019 ruling by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
4. The Court clarified that reservations in higher education are permissible only in certain cases, but not in PG medical courses.
5. The ruling does not affect existing reservations already granted by states.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth:

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has declared domicile-based reservations for postgraduate medical courses unconstitutional. This ruling came after a series of appeals against a 2019 decision by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had already struck down such reservations in PG medical admissions at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh.

Supreme Court’s Rationale: The Court asserted that the reservation system in education could be implemented in certain undergraduate medical courses like MBBS to help disadvantaged communities. However, such quotas cannot be extended to postgraduate courses, especially medical specializations. The rationale behind this was that higher education should prioritize merit and ensure qualified professionals enter specialized fields like medicine.

The bench referred to the principles laid out in Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which ensures equality before the law. The Court emphasized that India, being a vast country, gives its citizens the right to choose their place of residence and pursue their professional career across its borders without facing discrimination. The argument pointed out the flaws in implementing residence-based quotas as they may lead to segregation in professional opportunities, especially for medical professionals.

Background and Broader Implications: Although the judgment has stirred debate, particularly concerning state-specific needs for local medical professionals, the Court clarified that the current allocation of domicile-based reservations will not be impacted. This means students who were granted such reservations in the past will continue to benefit from them, but no further domicile-based quotas will be allowed in future postgraduate medical admissions.

The verdict is expected to affect PG medical admission processes across India. Admissions will now strictly adhere to merit, and students across the nation will be eligible for seats based on their academic performance. This decision strengthens the notion of equal opportunities for students nationwide, irrespective of their state of origin.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember:

The Supreme Court’s decision to cancel domicile-based reservations for PG medical courses emphasizes merit and equality in higher education. It upholds the Constitution’s guarantee of equal rights for citizens in terms of education and professional opportunities. While the ruling protects past reservations, it opens a new chapter for fair and equal access to PG medical seats based on academic merit.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

See Full Bio