New Delhi — The Supreme Court of India has taken up the matter concerning Telangana's domicile rules for medical college admissions, highlighting the state's legitimate interest in implementing a domicile certificate requirement. During the hearing, the bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, posed a critical question to representatives of the Telangana government can the state suspend its domicile policy for the current academic year while it seeks to address the social implications of such a change? The court's inquiry comes in light of a recent appeal from the Telangana government against a High Court ruling.
The High Court had determined that permanent residents of Telangana should not be denied admission to medical colleges solely because they had lived outside the state for the past four years or had not attended state schools during that time. Under the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Rules of 2017, amended earlier this year, the state enforces that only students who have studied in the state for the four years leading up to their qualifying examinations are eligible for admission under the state quota.
The Supreme Court emphasized the need for the state government to consider students with "original domicile" who may have relocated for educational opportunities, urging that the new regulations could potentially be put into effect starting next academic year. During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the Telangana government, acknowledged a prior concession made to grant a one-time exception to 135 students who filed the initial petition in the High Court.
This concession was contemplated in light of the court's observations, which noted that the state has a vested interest in domicile certification. The Supreme Court had previously stayed the High Court's September 5 ruling that favored permanent residents, allowing the Telangana government time to address the implications of the legal decisions. The bench advised that the state government should prepare its stance on the issue ahead of the next hearing scheduled for October 3, 2024.
In its appeal, the Telangana government argued that the High Court misinterpreted the domicile requirements set out in its existing regulations. The state asserted that it holds the legislative authority to determine the criteria for university admissions, including domicile status and residency requirements.
The government's argument underscored the logistical difficulties that would arise from implementing the High Court's order, which would necessitate extensive changes to the admissions process, leading to potential delays in seat allotments for aspiring medical students. As the legal discourse continues, the outcome could significantly impact the admissions landscape for medical colleges in Telangana and set precedent for domicile regulations across India.