OCIs eligible for MBBS seats only under NRI quota: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Overseas Citizens of India cannot be allowed admission to MBBS and BDS courses on seats other than those meant for the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in medical colleges of Karnataka.

The top court issued notice to a group of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) on a petition filed by the Karnataka government challenging validity of a judgement by the high court, allowing them admission to MBBS and BDS courses in various categories.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and S Abdul Nazeer passed an interim order, while seeking response within four weeks from Soundarya Muthukumari and others, as the state government, represented by senior advocate Basava Prabhu Patil, challenged the legality of the judgement delivered on July 7, 2017.

Patil contended the OCI candidates were to be treated on a par with the NRIs and they can’t be allowed admission to other category of seats like private seats.

Meanwhile, Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Union government, submitted that OCIs are on a par with the NRIs and they are entitled for admission to MBBS and BDS courses on seats meant for the NRIs. “The OCIs cannot be allowed admission on government seats in government or private colleges as those are meant only for Indian citizens,” he said.

The counsel, appearing for some of OCIs candidates, preferred to withdraw their separate petitions, that had challenged the Karnataka government rules, debarring them from competing for 85% state quota seats for admission to MBBS and other professional courses in colleges of Karnataka by appearing in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test.