SC Strikes Down Domicile Based Reservation for PG Medical Seats

New Delhi, Jan 29,2025: The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that domicile-based reservation for postgraduate (PG) medical seats is unconstitutional, as it infringes upon Article 14 of the Constitution.

A bench consisting of Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, and Justice SVN Bhatti concluded that providing residence-based quotas for admissions within the State quota for PG medical courses is not permissible under constitutional law.

“Residence-based reservation in PG medical courses violates Article 14 of the Constitution,” the bench stated.

The Court emphasized that State quota seats must be filled exclusively based on merit in the NEET examination. Referencing previous rulings in the Pradeep Jain and Saurabh Chandra cases, the bench reiterated the importance of a unified approach to domicile for preserving the constitutional framework.

“We are all domiciles of India. There is no such thing as provincial or state domicile. The Constitution grants us the right to reside anywhere in the country and seek admission to institutions across India,” Justice Dhulia stated while explaining the reasoning behind the judgment.

The bench clarified that while domicile-based reservations might still be allowed in MBBS courses to some extent, they are deemed unconstitutional for PG medical courses due to the crucial demand for specialized doctors at advanced levels.

However, the Court assured that this decision would not impact students who have already benefited from domicile-based reservations. Those currently enrolled in or who have completed PG courses under such reservations will remain unaffected.