The Supreme Court of India has taken a strong stance against the Punjab government’s recent attempt to broaden the definition of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) candidates for medical college admissions, labeling it as a “complete fraud” on the education system. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud criticized the move, stating that it undermines the integrity of the admission process and could allow individuals with significantly lower marks to secure seats that should go to more deserving candidates
The Punjab government’s notification had proposed to include not just actual NRIs but also their relatives—distant family members like uncles and aunts—under the NRI quota for MBBS admissions. This decision was contested by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ruled that such an expansion would likely lead to misuse of the quota, bypassing the original intent meant to benefit true NRIs
The Supreme Court upheld this ruling, insisting that the practice must cease to prevent further erosion of educational standards
Justice JB Pardiwala echoed the Chief Justice’s concerns, pointing out that many of those benefiting from the NRI quota were essentially residents of India, thus diverting opportunities from those who genuinely meet the criteria. The Court’s message is clear: systemic fraud in educational admissions must be addressed to preserve the sanctity of academic merit.
For further details, you can read the full article (ABP Live)
