SC Dismisses Punjab Government’s Broaden Definition of NRI Quota in MBBS Admissions, Upholds Punjab and Haryana HC’s Decision

Today (September 24, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) of India dismissed petitions challenging the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) that quashed a Punjab Government’s notification to broaden the ambit of NRI Quota in the MBBS admission. The bench said, “We will dismiss this, let us put a lid on this,...we have to put an end to the fraud, the HC order is absolutely right. This NRI Business is nothing but a fraud and look at the way the state of Punjab did this! After the notification of 9th August, on the last date which is August 19- 20th you issue a fresh notification expanding the category ‘ward’...look at the deleterious consequences, the candidates who have 3 times higher marks will lose admission and all these people will come from the backdoor.” The bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra was hearing 3 petitions challenging the Punjab and Haryana HC’s decision that struck down the Punjab Government’s notification to broaden the meaning of NRI candidate. The HC termed the same to be ‘unjustified’ as it violates the original purpose of the NRI Quota, to give a chance to genuine NRIs to study in India. 

The SC called the broader definition a ‘money-spinning tactic,’ “You say nearest relation of NRI will also be considered. Ward is also anyone's ward. What is this? This is just a money-spinning tactic of the State.” During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat, Senior Advocate DS Patwalia, and Senior Advocate Abhimanyu Bhandari argued before the Court. SA Bhandari argued, “Prospectus after clause 17 shows that once you choose a category you have to live with the category ... I have 636 marks who would have got this seat otherwise but for this quota coming into effect. This is nothing but using money power to get into college. In Punjab everyone would have a NRI relative. It is high time that this ends.” After hearing the contentions and arguments, the SC bench dismissed the petitions and said, “This fraud has to come to an end.”