In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld Telangana's rule requiring candidates to have studied or resided in the State for four consecutive years to be eligible for domicile quota seats in medical colleges. The Court set aside a High Court order that had read down this requirement for permanent residents. The judgment affirmed that the State Legislature's definition of 'local candidate' is constitutionally valid, properly grounded in Article 371D and a Presidential Order, and is not arbitrary or exclusionary. However, the Court added a proviso exempting children of government employees, All-India Services officers, defence/paramilitary personnel, and public sector undertaking employees posted outside Telangana during relevant study years, upon production of employment certificates.
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