SC upholds Telangana’s four-year local study rule for medical admissions

New Delhi: In a major ruling impacting medical aspirants, the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Telangana government’s decision to mandate four consecutive years of study or residence in the State for students seeking admission under the local quota in medical colleges.

The apex court set aside a Telangana High Court order that had relaxed this requirement for permanent residents.

Rule not arbitrary or unconstitutional

A Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran held that the State’s rule under the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission (MBBS & BDS Courses) Rules, 2017 is valid and enforceable.

“The absence of a statutory definition of residence or a residence certificate would lead to anomalies and unending litigation. The High Court’s reading down of the rule would make the reservation unworkable,” the Bench observed.

Safeguard for Defence, PSU families

The Court noted that the rules, amended on July 19, 2024, already provide exceptions for students whose parents were compulsorily transferred outside Telangana while serving in defence services, paramilitary forces, government institutions or public sector undertakings.

Such candidates, if tracing their nativity to Telangana, can still avail domicile benefits under specified conditions.

Background of the case

The controversy centered on Rule 3(a) of the 2017 rules. After the amendment, candidates were required to show four years of study or residence in Telangana before the qualifying exam.

Several students, who completed their intermediate education in Andhra Pradesh and other neighbouring states, challenged the rule before the Telangana High Court.

In September 2024, a Division Bench of Chief Justices Alok Aradhe and J Sreenivas Rao held that permanent residents of Telangana should not be compelled to fulfil the four-year study/residence condition.

The High Court “read down” the rule but stopped short of striking it down entirely, citing Article 371D of the Constitution, which provides special safeguards for local students.

Apex Court restores rule fully

Rejecting the High Court’s interpretation, the Supreme Court reinstated the State’s amendment in full. This means that only those who studied or resided in Telangana continuously for four years, except those covered under defence/PSU relaxations, will qualify for the local quota in medical admissions.

Legal representation

Advocate General A Sudarshan Reddy appeared for the State government. Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Gopal Sankaranarayanan represented the appellants.

Senior Advocates PB Suresh, Raghenth Basant, Prakash Deu Naik and Advocate Krishna Dev Jagarlamudi appeared for the respondents. Senior Advocate S Sriram represented an impleader.