Telangana HC Allows Petitioners to Apply as Local Candidates for MBBS, BDS Admissions

Speedy Summary

• Telangana High Court directed the State government and Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences to allow 34 students as ‘local candidates’ for MBBS/BDS admissions (2025-26).
• these students, who appeared for NEET UG 2025, were earlier disqualified as they did not study in Telangana for four consecutive years prior to the qualifying exam.
• The bench led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar and Justice P. Sam Koshy issued an interim order allowing these students to apply but stated their applications would depend on writ petition outcomes.
• The litigation originates from G.O. no. 114 (2017), which mandated a student must have studied class 9 to intermediate second year consecutively in Telangana to qualify under the local candidate quota.
• Critics argue that this policy excludes long-time residents of Telangana who studied outside the state at any point after class 10.
• A similar G.O., no.33 (2024),reinstated these provisions,leading more students to challenge its fairness in securing local quotas.
• On July 18, one student’s plea was upheld by HC; subsequently, on July 24, similar relief was extended to additional petitioners through interim directions.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The High Court’s decision underscores ongoing contention over residency qualifications for medical seat allotments under local quotas in Telangana. While designed to ensure fair access for genuine residents, policies like G.O.s no.114 and no.33 raise questions about equity due to their rigid criteria that exclude individuals otherwise deeply connected with the state.Balancing inclusivity and protection of domicile rights remains a complex issue with ramifications not only for education but also administrative processes governing regional identities across India. By extending interim relief while keeping final judgment pending, the judiciary signals attention towards both constitutional fairness and social accountability-highlighting that immediate decisions cannot sideline broader systemic debates.

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