Domicile Rule in Karnataka: Govt to seek Legal Opinion for PG Medical Counselling

Bengaluru: With the Supreme Court order on Wednesday, striking down the mandatory 10-year domicile rule in Karnataka for post-graduate, government and government-quota medical and dental seats, the setback to the state has led it to seek a legal opinion on the matter. The state also plans to address the Centre for the same.

The State government for the moment has brought the counselling process to a halt. 11,433 candidates have registered for counselling and have verified their documents as well. 2,275 medical seats and 909 dental seats in Karnataka are being competed for by these candidates.

Approximately, 50% of aspirant registrations are from outside the state and they will now have an access to both government and government-quota seats.

The last date set by the Medical Council of India (MCI), for completing the admission process is May 18, leaving little time for the state government to complete processes.

Sources of the Medical Education Department told The Hindu that the possibility of an appeal in the SC is ‘low’ due to the deadline fixed by the Council. According to the Karnataka Examinations Authority’s earlier deadline, the seats were to be allocated on April 5, which was, however, postponed.

Another concern is that the counselling would take place in the run-up to the State Assembly elections, which are scheduled on May 12. “Due to these circumstances, we will write to the central government seeking an extension of the May 18 deadline to complete admissions,” an official added.

The Medical Education Department, met the KEA, for a meeting on Thursday to sort out the logistics and make public the State government’s notification in line with the Supreme Court Order.

Sources in Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) revealed that the entire counselling process is to be rescheduled and non-Karnataka students allowed to exercise preferences in both government and government-quota medical and dental seats.