On Wednesday, the Supreme Court criticized the domicile policy of the Telangana government, which requires students to have completed their education from Classes 9 to 12 within the state to qualify for admission to state quota medical seats via NEET, stating that this policy does not reflect the actual circumstances.

The Supreme Court noted that numerous students relocate to cities like Kota for superior coaching during Classes 11 and 12, and they should not be excluded from the Telangana state quota medical seats solely because they studied outside the state. The bench emphasized that students whose parents are residents of Telangana should be permitted to apply for the state quota, regardless of where they completed their education. The court also cautioned the government to resolve this issue, or it would intervene.

Advocate Raghenth Basant, representing students who are affected by the domicile restriction despite their parents being born and continuously residing in Telangana, informed the bench that this situation has created a perplexing dilemma.

He highlighted that a child of a person from Kerala, who has lived in Telangana for only four years and completed their Classes 9 to 12 there, would be eligible for state quota medical seats. In contrast, students whose parents have been long-term residents of Telangana but studied outside the state would be denied the same opportunity.

He appealed to the court to amend the domicile criteria to allow children of all Telangana residents, regardless of where they completed their education, to gain admission to medical colleges under the state quota. The Supreme Court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on July 29, by which time the Telangana government must provide a response to the court’s inquiry.