In Brief
The Supreme Court addressed a challenge to circulars by the Directorate General of Health Services regarding NRI (Non-Resident Indian) quota seats in deemed universities. The petitioners argued these circulars created confusion about the definition of 'NRI', making admissions problematic. The Court adopted principles from earlier judgments to clarify NRI eligibility: students must have at least one NRI parent living abroad, or be sponsored by a first-degree NRI relation, or be under the guardianship of an NRI who filed an affidavit. The Court also clarified that the quota includes Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO). Counselling was to be completed by 31 August 2017 (or 4 September at the latest). This interim order applied only to deemed universities pending final disposal of the matter.
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