Telangana Students No Longer Eligible for PG Medical Quotas After Supreme Court Verdict

Hyderabad: In a landmark decision on Wednesday, the Supreme Court declared domicile-based reservations for Postgraduate (PG) medical seats as “impermissible,” a ruling that will significantly impact meritorious students from Telangana.

The decision means that from the next academic year, students from other states who completed their MBBS in Telangana will be eligible to compete for super-specialty medical seats under the Competent Authority in the state, while Telangana-born students will lose all such reservations.

Supreme Court‘s Judgment and Its Implications

The ruling, which has sparked considerable debate, upends the long-standing practice of allowing students from Telangana who completed their MBBS in the state to avail of domicile-based reservations in PG medical courses. Now, Telangana students will no longer have the advantage of state-specific quotas in PG medical education.

This decision is expected to have a profound effect on the landscape of medical education in the state, as many students and public health experts have raised concerns about its fairness. “Isn’t it unfair to deny a candidate an opportunity in their native State, where they were born and raised, just because they completed their MBBS in another State?” asks Dr. Sunil T, a native of Nalgonda who completed his MBBS in Karnataka.

He questions the fairness of granting benefits to students who have resided in a state for only five years while denying opportunities to local students.

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Concerns Over Medical Quality in South Indian States

In addition to concerns about fairness, there is growing apprehension that South Indian states, which are known for their well-established medical education systems, may face difficulties maintaining the quality of healthcare. Aravind Varier, a prominent data analyst, emphasized the impact on South Indian states in his post on platform X (@VarierAravind), stating, “It would be difficult for the South Indian States to maintain the quality of healthcare without domicile reservation for PG medical seats.”

These fears are rooted in the belief that the loss of domicile reservations could result in a shortage of medical professionals in states like Telangana, which already has a higher number of PG medical seats compared to other regions. With many students from neighboring states likely to seize the opportunity to compete for these seats, it remains to be seen how this shift will impact the state’s healthcare system.

Widespread Opposition to the Ruling

Many Telangana-born students are also worried about their chances of securing a PG medical seat in the state. “We will lose all reservations in the state quota for PG medical seats in Telangana,” said Komandla Abhiram Rao, a student of medical education.

Rao, who hails from the state, expressed concerns about the future of Telangana’s educational system, pointing out that the state government has invested significantly in establishing 33 government medical colleges across Telangana.

Rao further added, “Our government has spent a lot of money to establish and maintain these institutions. There should be some way to preserve the independence and integrity of our educational system.”

What Lies Ahead for Telangana Medical Students?

With the Supreme Court’s decision set to reshape the PG medical education landscape in Telangana, the coming years may bring more challenges and opportunities for students. While many believe this ruling will open doors for meritorious students from other states, the local concerns about access to medical education and the quality of healthcare in Telangana remain central to the ongoing debate.

The future of Telangana’s medical education system now hangs in the balance, with key stakeholders advocating for a reconsideration of the ruling or a modification to ensure fairness for local students.