Wed Jan 29 06:43:19 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Strikes Down Domicile-Based Reservations for PG Medical Courses
**New Delhi:** The Supreme Court of India has ruled that domicile-based reservations for postgraduate medical courses within the state quota are unconstitutional, violating Article 14 of the Constitution. The landmark decision, delivered by a three-judge bench, mandates that admissions to postgraduate medical courses under state quotas must be based solely on merit, determined by NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) scores.
The court asserted that all Indian citizens have the right to reside and pursue education anywhere in the country, rejecting the concept of state-specific domicile in this context. While acknowledging the possibility of domicile-based reservations for undergraduate courses, the bench argued that such reservations at the postgraduate level, particularly for specialized medical fields, would be discriminatory.
The ruling clarifies that this decision does not affect existing postgraduate medical students who secured admission under domicile-based reservation policies, nor does it impact previously granted reservations. The case, originating from a 2019 challenge to a similar Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, was initially heard by a two-judge bench before being referred to the larger bench for its significance. The Supreme Court’s decision effectively establishes a nationwide, merit-based system for postgraduate medical admissions within state quotas.
First Piper 