SC Relief for 150 Telangana Students on Local Category MBBS Admissions

Hyderabad:In a major relief to 150 Telangana students, who otherwise would have missed the chance of pursuing MBBS due to the last-minute change in the ‘local category’ definition, the state government on Friday agreed to treat them as local candidates and allot seats based on merit.

The government gave an undertaking to this effect to the Supreme Court when a special leave petition filed by it challenging the recent High Court order came up for hearing before a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.

The apex court, however, stayed the Telangana High Court division bench order asking the state government to frame guidelines for local category.

The change in the definition of local category was carried out at the behest of a top official of the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences and Deccan Chronicle has carried several reports highlighting the injustice meted out to Telangana students and how the move could help the managements of private medical colleges.

State counsel informed the apex court that as a special case 150 students who had approached the High Court challenging the definition of local category could be allowed for counseling but it would be a one-time measure for the academic year 2024-25

Counsel argued that the methodology adopted by the state government in determining the local category was approved by the apex court in several earlier judgments.

The state defended its insistence on students having to appear for the intermediate examination in Telangana to become eligible under the local category. “Otherwise students from other states including neighbouring Andhra Pradesh or even abroad can claim local category status if the HC order is implemented,” counsel argued.

The court adjourned matter for three weeks.