The Supreme Court had termed it as “fraud” on the quota system to admit NRI candidates in colleges. The court had dismissed the appeal filed by the Punjab government against the high court’s order quashing amended rules that allowed admission to MBBS courses under the quota system.
In a notification dated August 20, the Punjab government broadened the definition of an NRI candidate. It allowed relatives of Non-Resident Indians access MBBS courses under the NRI quota. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed this notification, warning that it could lead to widespread misuse.
While arguing the case in the Supreme Court, the counsel appearing for the Punjab government argued that states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh followed a broader definition for NRI quota admissions. “HP, UP, Chandigarh, everybody is following this definition and we are held on the narrower definition,” he said.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud was rather irate when he asked what could be the justification for bringing in the distant relatives of the NRIs for admissions. “This is just a money-spinning tactic by the state,” he said. The bench, which included Justice JB Pardiwala, upheld the high court judgment that called for scrapping the NRI quota scheme. “This is a complete fraud. This is what we are doing to our education system,” the Chief Justice said, indicating the extent discrimination against deserving candidates was being kept.
Justice Pardiwala also explained that all the applicants are citizens of India, only relatives of NRIs, including aunts and uncles. “What is the meaning of ward? You only have to say that you are taking care of somebody,” he said reiterating that the court cannot validate something “blatantly illegal.”
Now, a total of approximately 185 NRI quota seats are up for grabs every year in the medical and dental colleges across Punjab-a system that would be under scrutiny following the ruling.
