SC, ST, OBC Reservation Cannot Be Applied To NRI Quota Seats: Karnataka High Court

The Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court has held that the reservation for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) or Other Backward Class (OBC) cannot be applied to the Non- Resident Indian quota in the NEET-UG counseling process.

The Division Bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna and Justice Hema Kulkarni rejected a petition filed by an 18-year-old NEET-UG candidate seeking directions allowing her to retain her OBC status during the ongoing NEET-UG counselling process, despite having applied as an NRI (sponsored) candidate.

The Bench noted that the NRI seats are reserved under the unreserved category, and a candidate can opt only for one type of reservation during counseling.

“The NRI quota is a separate quota and 15% of the seats are reserved for NRIs. The nuances of such reservation are found in the brochure that is notified in terms of law, which clearly indicates that NRI can only be under the unreserved category,” the Court said.

It added, “It becomes apposite to notice Frequently Asked Question No.36 of the NEET-UG (MBBS/BDS/B.Sc. Nursing) COUNSELLING 2026 Information Bulletin and Counselling Scheme, which observes that NRI candidates would be shown seats reserved for the NRI category and that one candidate can opt only for one type of reservation.”

The High Court observed that the petitioner, who obtained 48.33% marks, failed to meet the cutoff marks required under the NRI quota and was seeking a re-interpretation of the rules solely to secure admission.

“With this being the case, the petitioner is wanting us to interpret that the reservation of either SC/ST/OBC or otherwise should be straight away made applicable even to the NRI, so that the petitioner could get in under the NRI-OBC category. This submission is sans countenance in the light of the petitioner not only not crossing the threshold bar of the marks required to be obtained under the NRI quota, which is unreserved, but also the petitioner cannot now want us to interpret that the NRI quota should now be addressed with a reservation for her to get into the counselling,” the Court said.

Finding no merit, the High Court rejected the petition.

Case: Juhi vs Union of India & others

WRIT PETITION NO. 107372 OF 2026 (EDN-RES)