The Court permitted a broad interpretation of 'ward' for NRI quota admissions in deemed universities, including first-degree blood relations as guardians, as an interim measure to prevent seat wastage, provided that merit is not completely disregarded.

ORDER :

1. Heard Dr. Rajeev Dhawan, learned senior counsel along with Ms. Farah Fathima, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. P.S. Narasimha, learned Additional Solicitor General for the Union of India and Mr. Gaurav Sharma, learned counsel for the Medical Council of India.

2. The matter was listed today for consideration of the filling up of NRI quota seats. Dr. Rajeev Dhawan, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioners has drawn our attention to the letter circulars dated 13th July, 2017 and 28th July, 2017, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services. According to him, the said communications create an anomalous situation as a consequence of which the description of NRI has become extremely difficult. He has drawn our attention to a passage from P.A. Inamdar vs. State of Maharashtra (2005) 6 SCC 537, wherein the Constitution Bench has held thus:-

“Here itself we are inclined to deal with the question as to seats allocated for Non-Resident Indians ('NRI', for short) or NRI seats. It is common knowledge that some of the institutions grant admissions to a certain number of students under such quota by charging a higher amount of fee. In fact, the term 'NRI' in relation to admissions is a misnomer. By and large, we have noticed in cases after cases coming to this Court, neither the students who get admissions under this category nor their parents are NRIs. In effect and reality, under this category, less meritorious students, but who can afford to bring more money, get admission. During the course of hearing, it was pointed out that a limited number of such seats should be made available as the money brought by such students admitted against NRI quota enables the educational institutions to strengthen their level of education and also to enlarge their education activities. It was also pointed out that people of Indian origin, who have migrated to other countries, have a desire to bring back their children to their own country as they not only get education but also get reunited with Indian cultural ethos by virtue of being here. They also wish the money which they would be spending elsewhere on education of their children should rather reach their own motherland. A limited reservation of such seats, not exceeding 15%, in our opinion, may be made available to NRIs depending on the discretion of the management subject to two conditions. First, such seats should be utilized bona fide by the NRIs only and for their children or wards. Secondly, within this quota, the merit should not be given a complete go-by. The amount of money, in whatever form collected from such NRIs, should be utilized for benefiting students such as from economically weaker sections of the society, whom, on well defined criteria, the educational institution may admit on subsidized payment of their fee. To prevent misutilisation of such quota or any malpractice referable to NRI quota seats, suitable legislation or regulation needs to be framed. So long as the State does not do it, it will be for the Committees constituted pursuant to the direction in Islamic Academy to regulate.”

3. Submission of learned senior counsel is that the word “wards” used in the said paragraph should be understood in a broader compass and be applied in a wider spectrum. He has also drawn our attention to the decision rendered in Ruchin Bharat Patel vs. Parents' Association for the M/D Students and Others in I.A. Nos.9-10 & 11-12 in Civil Appeal No.4480 of 2006, wherein this Court after referring to various aspects, has held thus:-

“Normally, the admissions to the medical colleges should have been finally concluded before 30th September. This year's admission is long overdue and if this 15% of the students are not allowed to be admitted under NRI quota there may be financial loss to these college and the seats shall also go waste. In view of the peculiar circumstances of the case, for this year we are taking a practical view of the situation and we feel that the stud