Telangana HC Strikes Down Rule, NEETPG Aspirants Urge Quick Counselling

The Telangana High Court has ruled in favor of the petitioners challenging the recent state government order on local residency rules for NEET PG admissions.

Court Ruling

The court struck down the amendment to Rule VIII (ii) of the Telangana Medical Colleges (Admission into Postgraduate Medical Courses) Rules, 2021, which required PG medical aspirants to have completed at least four consecutive schooling years in Telangana to be eligible for state quota seats, irrespective of their MBBS completion within the state.

The verdict comes after hearing W.P. No. 31161/2024, filed by Dr. P. Archana and 93 others against the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS).

The Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, addressed a challenge regarding the “four consecutive schooling years” requirement for eligibility. The petitioners argued that the rule was unfair, as it excluded candidates who had pursued their MBBS in Telangana but did not fulfill the specific schooling criteria. After hearing the arguments, the court deemed the amendment unconstitutional and struck down the mandate, providing relief to the affected candidates.

This decision comes as a significant relief to 94 NEET PG aspirants, allowing broader eligibility for the state quota seats and striking down a contentious local residency criterion.

The judgment is expected to impact the ongoing NEET PG 2024 counselling in Telangana, restoring eligibility for students who completed their MBBS in the state. Final judgment was announced on 17th December 2024 at 10:30 AM.

Urge for Quick Counselling

Following the Telangana High Court’s judgment, students have expressed a strong desire for KNRUHS to avoid any further delays and promptly release either a finalised or provisional merit list. They have also urged the publication of a seat matrix to help them make informed decisions during the counselling process.

Earlier, the petitioners had conveyed the urgency of the situation, referring to it as an emergency and calling for the court’s swift intervention to resolve the ongoing crisis. With the new academic year approaching, NEET PG aspirants in Telangana sincerely hope that the authorities will act promptly to ensure a seamless and timely counselling process for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Medical Bulletin