Chhattisgarh HC Seeks State’s Response on Domicile-Based Reservation in PG Medical Admissions
The Chhattisgarh High Court is currently examining a plea that challenges the state's PG Medical Admission Rules, alleging that they create an unconstitutional domicile-based reservation. This legal action has significant implications for aspirants across the state.

In a crucial development for postgraduate medical aspirants in Chhattisgarh, the High Court has requested the state government to provide a response to a writ petition challenging the validity of the State Medical Post Graduate Admission Rules, 2021. The petition, filed by a medical graduate, alleges that certain rules are unconstitutional and create an impermissible domicile-based reservation, thereby violating Article 14 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to equality.
The petitioner's counsel argued that Rule 11(a) of the admission rules grants preference to candidates who have either obtained their MBBS degree from a college within Chhattisgarh or are currently in service. Additionally, Rule 11(b) states that if any seats remain vacant after admitting the aforementioned candidates, they will then be offered to students who are native residents of Chhattisgarh but have completed their MBBS degree from a college outside the state. According to the petitioner, this effectively creates a 100% reservation for candidates who have an MBBS degree from within the state, as the second category of students is only considered for leftover seats.
The High Court has taken note of the argument that this two-tiered system unjustly discriminates between students who are both domicile residents of Chhattisgarh. The counsel for the petitioner cited a recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of Dr. Tanvi Bhel v. Shrey Goel and others, which held that residence-based reservations are impermissible in postgraduate medical courses. The Supreme Court emphasized that state quota seats, with the exception of a reasonable number of institutional preferences, must be filled strictly based on merit from the all-India NEET examination.
The High Court Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, has given the state two weeks to file its official reply and has granted the petitioner a further two weeks to file a rejoinder. The outcome of this case will have a substantial impact on how postgraduate medical seats are allotted in the state, potentially re-shaping the admission landscape for thousands of aspirants.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the complex and often contentious nature of reservation policies in higher education. As the legal proceedings unfold, aspirants are advised to stay informed about any potential changes to the counselling process. For regular updates on medical education news and admissions, follow Only Education News.