Can NRI students seek admission through NRI quota only- Kerala HC to take call

A non resident Indian(NRI) student has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court on discovering that only NRI quota seats were made available to him in deemed universities, despite being of meritorious rank.

This year has brought in a new regulation whereby, student admissions are done on the basis of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) scores and centralized counselling held by the Medical Counselling Committee. The new regulation has come into practice as per directives of the Supreme Court.

The petitioner in his petition made clear that he can exercise choices online only in the NRI quota of deemed universities.However, 15% seats in the All India quota in government medical colleges open an all seat option to the NRI candidate, regardless of his non resident status.

The petitioner goes on to add that under the management quota, the NRI candidate faces no restrictions.

He points out that Clause 3(e) of Chapter 3 of NEET Guidelines issued by CBSE states that Indian Nationals, Non Resident Indians(NRIs), Oversees . Citizen of India(OCIs), Persons of Indian Origin(PIO) and Foreign Nationals are eligible to appear for NEET(UG)-2017.

As per this clause, the petitioner, who is an NRI, is eligible to appear for NEET. Clause 2(a) of Chapter 3 of Guidelines ... states that NRIs are eligible for seats under the control of States, Universities etc, necessarily implying that NRI candidates are eligible to all seats, under deemed universities, as well.

He further contended that the limitations in this case arose due to his not furnishing the aadhaar card number, while registering for NEET. This, he said had happened as NRI's had been made an exception to the rule. They only had to furnish their passport numbers, unlike other candidates who were asked to give their Aadhaar links. The petitioner being a non resident did not possess an aadhar card, therefore, he furnished his passport number, while registering for NEET.

The petitioner pointing at the anomaly, said that registration through the passport number resulted in the online system of centralized counseling treating him as an NRI candidate; eligible only for NRI quota.

He further contended that this amounted to ' illegal discrimination and unreasonable classification'. Pointing at the irrationality and deception that lay behind denial of open quota seats to NRI candidates, he gave an example saying even if an NRI candidates secured first rank in NEET and if he wanted to take admission in a deemed university, he would have to take admission in the NRI quota in deemed universities

The MCC and the Director General of Health Services have been asked to seek instructions on the matter by the court reports Live Law.