SC upholds four-year local study rule for Telangana medical admissions

HYDERABAD: The Supreme Court has reiterated the rule governing local reservation for medical admissions in Telangana, holding that the prescribed four-year study requirement has to be followed for claiming local status. Local reservations are to be implemented in accordance with the applicable Presidential Orders and Telangana admission rules.

The apex court had earlier upheld the interpretation of the Telangana government's local-candidate rules for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses. The rules require candidates claiming local status under the Competent Authority Quota to have studied in educational institutions in Telangana for four consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which they appeared, or first appeared, for the relevant qualifying examination, subject to specified exceptions.

The Telangana High Court has also, in recent cases, followed the Supreme Court's interpretation and dismissed petitions challenging the four-year requirement. In one such case, the court held that a candidate who had studied in Andhra Pradesh during part of the relevant period could not claim local status merely on the ground that she had studied for a longer period in Telangana during the broader seven-year period. The courts have, however, recognised specified exceptions under the Telangana rules for certain categories of students who studied outside the State because of their parents' transferable government service. Recent High Court orders have extended such benefits to eligible children of Central Government employees, subject to production of the required certificates.

The four-year local-study criterion is applicable to admissions to undergraduate medical and dental courses under the Competent Authority Quota, with the rules also providing a separate residence-based provision for candidates who have not studied in an educational institution during the relevant period.

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The Hans India