The Supreme Court dealt with appeals filed by the State of Telangana and its universities against two High Court judgments that had expanded the definition of “local candidate” for medical college admissions. The issue was whether the High Court could interfere with rules framed under the Presidential Order (Article 371D of the Constitution) and broaden the definition of local candidates.
The Telangana government argued that the expansion would defeat the special benefit intended for genuine local students who studied and lived in the State. Students, however, said the definition ignored real-life situations like transfer of parents or better schooling opportunities outside Telangana.
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Justice K. Vinod Chandran, writing the judgment, clarified:
“The true test is not nativity by descent, but residence and continued education within the State, culminating with the qualifying exam in Telangana. This ensures real bonding and integration with the local environment.”
The Court noted that the High Court’s order to include anyone with a residence certificate was legally unsound and would create confusion.
- The 2017 Rules and the 2024 amended rules were validly framed under the Andhra Pradesh Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission) Order, 1974, backed by Article 371D.
- Past Supreme Court rulings (including Pradeep Jain v. Union of India and D.P. Joshi v. State of Madhya Bharat) had consistently upheld residence-based reservations in medical education.
- The Court said hardship alone cannot make a rule unconstitutional.
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During the hearing, Telangana’s Advocate General proposed a proviso to protect students forced to study outside the State due to parents’ employment. The Court accepted this safeguard.
The exceptions apply to children of:
- Telangana government employees posted outside the State
- All India Service officers of Telangana cadre serving outside the State
- Defence and paramilitary personnel who declared Telangana as their hometown
- Employees of Telangana government corporations liable to transfers across India
“This proviso should allay and mitigate the grievances of such candidates,” the Court observed.
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The Supreme Court allowed the appeals of Telangana, set aside the High Court judgments, and upheld the 2017 and 2024 rules (with the above exceptions).
It also clarified that students already admitted under interim High Court orders would not lose their seats.
Case: The State of Telangana & Ors. vs. Kalluri Naga Narasimha Abhiram & Ors.
Case Numbers: Civil Appeal @ SLP (C) Nos. 21536–21588 of 2024 & connected matters
Judgment Date: 1 September 2025
