Court rules NRI quota as distinct, denies OBC reservation claim within NRI category; petitioner fails to meet eligibility criteria.
In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the denial of dual quota benefits in the ongoing NEET-UG 2026 counselling process. The petitioner, Juhi, sought admission under the NRI sponsored category while simultaneously claiming benefits of the OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/2A reservation. The Division Bench comprising Justices M. Nagaprasanna and Hema Kulkarni delivered the judgment, emphasizing the distinct nature of the NRI quota.
Juhi, represented by Advocate Deepak C. Maganur, argued for the inclusion of OBC reservation benefits in her application for medical admission under the NRI quota, relying on sponsorship from her paternal aunt. However, the court noted that the Information Bulletin and Counselling Scheme for NEET-UG explicitly state that NRI, OCI, and PIO candidates are limited to seats reserved for the NRI category and general seats, and cannot claim other reservations such as OBC within the NRI quota.
The court further highlighted that the petitioner failed to meet the basic eligibility criteria required for consideration under the NRI quota, having secured only 48.33% marks, which is below the threshold for unreserved NRI candidates. The plea for modifying the existing counselling notice and allowing dual reservation claims was thus rejected.
The ruling underscores the principle that candidates can opt for only one type of reservation during the counselling process, as reiterated in the court's reference to the NEET-UG 2026 counselling FAQ. The judgment clarifies that the NRI quota operates independently of other reservation categories, and any attempt to introduce additional reservations within it is untenable.
Respondents in the case, represented by Advocates Mrutyunjay S. Hallikeri, Anoop Deshpande, and Surabhi Kulkarni, maintained that the petitioner's claims were inconsistent with the established counselling guidelines and lacked merit.
This decision is pivotal in maintaining the integrity and clarity of the counselling scheme, ensuring that candidates adhere to the predefined reservation categories and eligibility norms. The judgment serves as a reminder to applicants about the importance of understanding the specific conditions and limitations of each quota during the admission process.
Bottom Line :
NEET-UG counselling - NRI quota is a separate quota and candidates opting under NRI category can only claim NRI category seats and general seats as per the counselling scheme - One candidate can opt only for one type of reservation - OBC reservation cannot be claimed within NRI quota - Petition rejected.
Statutory provision(s): Article 226 of the Constitution of India
Juhi v. Union of India, (Karnataka)(DB)(Dharwad) : Law Finder Doc id # 2989314
