Telangana High Court Steps In: OCI Student Gains Interim Relief for NEET PG NRI Quota

Hyderabad, India – In a significant move that brings a sigh of relief to overseas Indian medical aspirants, the Telangana High Court has delivered a crucial interim order, allowing an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) student to provisionally register for NEET PG counselling under the highly sought-after Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota.

This landmark decision directly challenges a contentious state government order that had sought to exclude OCIs from this category.

The petitioner, Dr. Pranav Namburi, found himself in a difficult predicament despite having successfully completed his MBBS in Russia and clearing the rigorous NEET PG 2024 examination.

His aspirations to pursue postgraduate medical education in India hit a roadblock due to the Telangana government’s GO 120, issued in 2023. This order, in a move widely criticized, restricted NRI quota seats exclusively to NRIs and their direct dependents, pointedly omitting OCIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) from consideration.

Dr.

Namburi, represented by his legal team, passionately argued that GO 120 was not only arbitrary but also in direct contravention of established legal precedents. They highlighted a pivotal Supreme Court judgment in the ‘Dr. Faizanuddin’ case and numerous Medical Council of India (MCI) regulations, all of which unequivocally stipulate that OCIs should be treated on par with NRIs for the purpose of admission to medical and dental courses.

The state government’s order, therefore, appeared to be creating an unnecessary and discriminatory barrier.

Justice C V Bhaskar Reddy, presiding over the case, took note of the profound inconsistencies between the state government's GO 120 and the prevailing national legal framework. Recognizing the urgency and the potential for irreparable harm to the petitioner's academic career, the court swiftly issued an interim order.

This directive permits Dr. Namburi to proceed with provisional registration under the NRI quota, effectively putting his application back on track for the time being.

This interim relief is not merely a win for Dr. Namburi; it sends a powerful message about the rights of OCIs in India's competitive medical education landscape.

The court's decision underscores the principle that state regulations cannot override national policies and Supreme Court pronouncements, especially when it comes to fundamental rights and equal opportunities.

The Telangana High Court has now directed the state government to furnish its response, with the next hearing scheduled for July 15.

The outcome of this case will be closely watched by thousands of OCI medical aspirants and their families, as it could set a vital precedent, ensuring that merit and national regulations prevail over restrictive local mandates.