NRIs domicile of Gujarat can't be restricted to NRI quota: Gujarat High Court

A division bench of Gujarat High Court on Friday ruled that Non-Resident Indians cannot be limited to the NRI quota for admission to medical seats if they are domicile of the state. The order came in connection with a petition that challenged a notification of the Gujarat government which stated that NRIs and Overseas Citizens of India can be given seats only under the NRI quota.

The notification was challenged by two students who are originally citizens of US and the UK but have studied in Gujarat since class 1. They were denied domicile certificates by the state machinery as they were persons of Indian origin and not Indian citizens when they wanted to apply for the medical admissions

Meanwhile, the state has allowed the two to apply for a domicile certificate following which the two will be able to apply for the same. Further hearing in the case will continue on Monday.

It should be noted that the Gujarat high court has seen a series of petitions over domicile issue and medical admissions since the admission season began. Earlier, in June a division bench of Gujarat high court had upheld the state governments' rule that students seeking admission in medical undergraduate courses in the 85% state quota should be domicile of the state.