In a landmark decision that could set a precedent for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) candidates, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted provisional relief to a medical aspirant seeking admission to a postgraduate course under the general category.
Court's Interim Relief for Medical Aspirant
The bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma directed authorities to allow the OCI candidate to provisionally occupy the general category seat she had been allotted during the recent NEET PG counselling. This interim arrangement will remain in effect until the court delivers its final verdict on her petition challenging the current eligibility criteria.
The Legal Challenge
The petitioner, Dr. Parvati Goyal, contested the notification issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) that restricts OCI candidates to Non-Resident Indian (NRI) seats only. She argued that this policy unfairly limits her opportunities despite her Indian origins and qualifications.
"The court recognized the urgency of the matter, considering the academic session has already commenced," the order stated. "Depriving the petitioner of admission at this stage could cause irreparable harm to her medical career."
What This Means for OCI Candidates
This provisional relief opens up new possibilities for OCI candidates who have traditionally been confined to the NRI quota, which typically involves significantly higher tuition fees compared to general category seats. The court's decision acknowledges the need to reconsider the existing framework that separates OCI candidates from the general pool.
The ruling comes at a crucial time when thousands of medical graduates compete for limited PG seats across the country. With this interim order, the petitioner can now continue her medical education while the court examines the constitutional validity of the NMC's notification.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The court has issued notices to relevant authorities including:
- National Medical Commission (NMC)
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)
- Union of India
- Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences
All parties have been given time to file their responses as the case continues to unfold. The final judgment could potentially reshape the admission landscape for OCI candidates in medical education across India.
