On Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed the Punjab government’s appeal challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order cancelling its decision to expand the definition of ‘NRI quota’ for undergraduate medical admissions to include relatives of non-resident Indians.
Notably, the Supreme Court was hearing appeals challenging the high court’s September 10 order cancelling the notification issued by the Punjab government on August 20. The notification expanded the NRI quota to include even distant relatives such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins of NRIs for admissions under the 15 % quota for this group in admissions in medical colleges.
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, presiding over a three-judge bench termed the government move a complete fraud and a money-spinning machine. CJI Chandrachud said, ‘We must stop this NRI quota business now’. He further added, ‘This is complete fraud and this is what we are doing to our education system! Judges know what they are dealing with’.
Refusing to intervene, the Supreme Court stated the high court had dealt with the case ‘threadbare’. The apex court also sought to draw attention to the harmful results of such a quota move and said, ‘The candidates who have three times higher mark (in NEET UG exams) will lose admission’.
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