Supreme Court Stops NRI Quota Changes in Punjab Medical Colleges
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed petitions challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that quashed a Punjab government notification amending conditions for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota admissions in medical colleges.
Key Details
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra termed the amended conditions by the government as ‘fraud’.
Chief Justice Chandrachud stated, “We must stop this NRI quota business now. This is complete fraud, we have to put an end to the fraud. This is what we are doing to our education system. Judges know what they are dealing with. The High Court order is absolutely right.”
The top court was hearing three petitions against the Punjab and Haryana High Court order of September 11, which had quashed the August 20 notification of the Punjab government. The notification had widened the definition of ‘NRI’ candidates to include relatives of NRIs.
The High Court had quashed the notification on the grounds that the broadening of the definition was ‘arguably unjustified’.
After hearing arguments in the case, the apex court concluded, “All three petitions dismissed. Let us put a lid on this. This fraud has come to an end. This NRI business is nothing but a fraud. This comes to an end now.”
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes the final decisions on important legal matters.
NRI Quota -: NRI Quota refers to a special reservation of seats in colleges for Non-Resident Indians, who are people of Indian origin living abroad.
Punjab Medical Colleges -: These are colleges in the state of Punjab where students study to become doctors.
Petitions -: Petitions are formal requests made to a court asking for a specific legal action.
Punjab and Haryana High Court -: This is a court that makes important legal decisions for the states of Punjab and Haryana.
Notification -: A notification is an official announcement made by the government.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud -: He is the head judge of the Supreme Court of India.
Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra -: They are judges in the Supreme Court of India.
Fraud -: Fraud means cheating or dishonesty.
NRI quota business -: This refers to the practice of making money by unfairly reserving seats for NRIs in colleges.