In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared that domicile-based reservations in postgraduate (PG) medical courses are unconstitutional, citing a violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. The ruling, issued on January 29, 2025, holds significant implications for medical aspirants across the country.
A three-judge bench comprising Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, and Justice SVN Bhatti unanimously ruled that residence-based reservations in PG medical admissions are impermissible under the State quota system. The court reaffirmed that seats in PG medical courses should be allocated strictly based on merit as determined by the NEET-PG exam.
The ruling reinforces previous judgments in the Pradeep Jain and Saurabh Chandra cases, emphasizing that domicile-based reservations in PG medical courses undermine the principle of equality enshrined in Article 14. However, the court clarified that domicile quotas remain permissible for MBBS admissions, as undergraduate medical education has different considerations.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a significant step toward ensuring fairness and meritocracy in India’s medical education system. While states have long sought to prioritize local students, the ruling upholds the fundamental right to equality in education. This landmark judgment is expected to bring transparency and consistency to PG medical admissions, benefiting thousands of aspiring doctors nationwide.