Supreme Court Strikes Down Domicile Quotas for PG Medical Admissions

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that domicile-based reservations for postgraduate medical courses are unconstitutional, citing a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which ensures equality before the law.

Key Highlights of the Judgment:

  1. Domicile-Based Reservations are Unconstitutional:
    • Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia stated that reservations based on residence in PG medical seats violate Article 14.
    • He emphasized that admissions must be strictly based on merit.
  2. India is a Single Domicile for Pursuing Trade & Education:
    • The judgment reaffirmed that all Indian citizens have the right to pursue their education anywhere in India without domicile restrictions at the postgraduate level.
    • State-specific reservations in higher education, especially in PG courses, were deemed arbitrary and unconstitutional.
  3. MBBS Level Reservations May Still Exist:
    • The ruling clarified that domicile-based reservations may be justified at the MBBS level in certain cases.
    • However, higher education (PG admissions) must be merit-based.
  4. No Impact on Already Admitted Students:
    • The Supreme Court upheld the admissions of students already enrolled under domicile-based quotas.
    • Those who are already pursuing courses will not be affected by this decision.

Implications of the Ruling:

✅ Future PG medical admissions will be based on merit only.
✅ States can no longer implement domicile-based quotas for PG medical courses.
✅ Existing reservations granted under domicile criteria remain valid.
✅ Potential impact on state policy regarding MBBS and UG admissions.

This ruling reinforces the principle of equal opportunity and is expected to bring significant reforms in medical education across India.