Supreme Court Upholds Telangana’s 4-Year Residence Rule for Medical Admissions
The Supreme Court has upheld Telangana’s rule that requires students to study or live in the State for four continuous years to be eligible for the domicile quota in medical college admissions.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran overturned a Telangana High Court decision that had relaxed this condition for permanent residents of the State. The Court ruled that the rule is neither arbitrary nor unconstitutional.
The judgment highlighted that without a clear definition of residence, the High Court’s interpretation could lead to confusion and endless disputes. It also pointed out that the existing rules already provide an exception for students whose parents are transferred outside Telangana due to government, defence or public sector jobs.
The controversy relates to Rule 3(a) of the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Rules, 2017, which was amended in July 2024. The amendment made it compulsory for students to have studied or lived in Telangana for four years before appearing for the qualifying exam.
Earlier, the High Court had ruled in September 2024 that permanent residents of Telangana should not be forced to meet the four-year condition. It read down the rule while allowing the State to frame guidelines on who qualifies as a permanent resident. This order was challenged before the Supreme Court.
With this ruling, the Supreme Court has now restored the original rule, confirming that only those who have continuously studied or lived in Telangana for four years—or fall under the defence and PSU exception—will get domicile quota benefits in medical admissions.
