NEET-PG: Telangana High Court Directs Central Govt Authorities To Consider OCI Card Holder's Plea For Admission Under NRI Quota

The Telangana High Court has directed Central government authorities to consider the application of a medical aspirant possessing an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card seeking admission for NEET-PG course claiming eligibility under NRI quota. 

The order was passed by the division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohidduin in a writ petition filed by a student, who contended that despite making an application to the Ministry of External Affairs for the issuance of an Embassy Certificate of Sponsor, the certificate was not being issued.

It was submitted that counselling for admission to P.G. Courses for All India quota as well as State quota may start on any date. It was submitted that he may be permitted to submit the OCI card for registration till updated guidelines for NRI seats eligibility are issued by the Department concerned.

He claimed that although he had applied for embassy certificate but it was rejected on the ground that OCI card suffices. The court thereafter said:

"...since it appears that the updated guidelines for NRI seats eligibility are in the pipeline and registration for NEET PG Counselling may commence any date and that as the petitioner has OCI card, his application for registration under NRI quota be entertained on the basis of OCI card...". 

The petitioner had contended that a notice issued by the Directorate General of Health Services in March 2025 supplemented the Embassy Certificate in place of an OCI certificate for converting nationality from Indian to NRI for applying under the Special Stray Vacancies of PG counselling 2024 (MD/MS/Diploma Seats).

The Deputy Directorate of General (Medical &Health) had informed the court that NRI certificate for OCI is not mandatory, and also requested the petitioner to wait for the updated guidelines for NRI seat eligibility, as the NEET PG Counselling was yet to start.

The respondent University–Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences–submitted that it is guided by the guidelines laid down by respondent No.1, Medical Counselling Committee (Directorate General of Health Sciences, Government of India). 

However, the bench clarified that the petitioner shall be required to submit the requisite certificates, as provided in the updated guidelines for availing NRI seats eligibility to be issued by Medical Counselling Committee per the written instructions supplied to the counsel for Central Government. 

Case title: Dr. Pamula Sushanth Reddy vs. The Medical Counselling Committee and others

Counsel for petition: Dharmesh D.K. Jaiswal

Counsel for respondents: T. Sharath, K. Arvind Kumar and Gorantla Sri Ranga Punitha

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