SC Reserves Verdict on T'gana's Domicile Rule for Med Admissions

Only state has authority to define 'permanent resident', says govt in appeal against HC ruling

- Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty @ New Delhi

WHILE the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the Telangana government's appeal challenging the high court striking down the state's controversial four-year domicile rule for admissions to medical and dental colleges under the state quota, the arguments put forth by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of the state make interesting reading.

The Telangana government had moved the top court challenging the HC order holding that the state's permanent residents cannot be denied benefits of admissions in the medical and dental colleges only on the ground that they lived outside the state for some time.

Arguing before the bench headed by CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, Singhvi, defending the state's rule, argued that Telangana's domicile criteria were rooted in a government rule backed by a Presidential Order.