Medical Education Admission Rules | PG Aspirant Approaches MP High Court Seeking Extension Of NRI Quota To Stray Vacancy Round

A post-graduate medical aspirant seeking admission under the NRI quota has approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court challenging the validity of Rule 14(2) of the MP Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018. The challenge is limited to the provision permitting the conversion of unfilled NRI quota seats after the third round of counselling. The petitioner contended that such seats should instead remain reserved for NRI candidates until the Stray Vacancy Round and has accordingly sought an extension of the NRI quota up to that stage. The division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi admitted the petition and passed an interim order directing the State to adhere to Rule 14(2) during the ongoing counselling process. "As an interim measure, it is directed that if there is no any other legal impediment, the respondent shall adhere to the provisions of Rule 14(2) of the M.P. Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018. List the matter on 25.02.2026". Admission to the PG Medical courses is governed by the MP Medical Education Admission Rules, 2018, as amended by notification dated June 19, 2019. The petitioner specifically challenges Rule 14(2), inserted through the said amendment. Per the petition, the NRI quota was recognized as a sub-category under Schedule 2 of the Rules, along with other sub-categories. Under Rule 14(2), if candidates of a particular sub-category are not available after counselling rounds, the vacant seats are made available to the concerned category following a prescribed mechanism. However, Rule 14(2) provides that vacant NRI seats are to be converted into unreserved seats without first exhausting the eligible NRI candidates. The petition argued that this differential treatment is arbitrary and discriminatory, as other sub-categories are not subjected to such direct conversion.It was stated that even in All India Counselling and other State counselling processes, seat conversion occurs only after eligible candidates of the respective category have been exhausted and in accordance with a prescribed conversion algorithm. The petition asserted that Rule 14(2) was manifestly arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Once the NRI quota is recognized as a sub-category, it cannot be subjected to a separate and disadvantageous conversion mechanism. During the hearing, the petitioner confined his arguments to seeking interim protection to ensure that vacant NRI seats are not converted into unreserved seats until the Stray Vacancy Round. Taking note of the commencement of the counselling process, the court directed the State to seek instructions and, as an interim measure, directed adherence to Rule 14(2), subject to there being no other legal impediment. The matter was listed for further hearing on February 25, 2026. Case Title: Dr Abhi Sharma v State of MP [WP-6495-2026]For Petitioner: Senior Advocate Ajay Bagadia with Advocate Hemendra JainFor Intervenors: Advocates Rohit Sharma, Govind Pal Singh Songara, Nikhil Mishra and Kushagra JainFor State: Deputy Solicitor General Shrey Raj SaxenaClick here to read/download the Order

Medical Education Admission Rules | PG Aspirant Approaches MP High Court Seeking Extension Of NRI Quota To Stray Vacancy Round

Jayanti Pahwa

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