SC rejects Punjab's NRI quota plea to avail MBBS admission

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Punjab government's plea against the High Court's order on admissions to undergraduate medical and dental courses in the state under the NRI quota, saying "This fraud must come to an end".

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had on September 10 quashed the state government's August 20 order extending the ambit of the NRI quota to include distant relatives "such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins" of NRIs for admissions under 15 % quota for this group in admissions in medical colleges.

Taking up a plea by the Punjab government, a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra found the HC's ruling as absolutely right.

"Look at the deleterious consequences, the candidates who have three times higher marks will lose admission. This fraud must come to an end now. This is nothing but a money spinning machine,” the bench said.

The bench termed the Punjab government's appeal as without any basis and substance.

The court said distant relatives of a 'mama, tai, taya', who are settled abroad, will get admissions ahead of meritorious candidates and this cannot be allowed.

"How you are saying the nearest relation of NRI will also be considered? What is this, just a money-spinning tactic by the state," the bench asked, while rejecting the contentions of the Punjab government.