Local residency requirements for educational admissions are binding and cannot be bypassed based on the student's educational history alone, reaffirming the statute's intent in defining local candidates.

Order :

R. Raghunandan Rao, J.

1. Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, learned Advocate General representing the learned G.P. for Medical, Health and Family Welfareappearing for the respondents and Smt. Tata Venkata Sridevi, learned Standing Counsel appearing for Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences.

2. As all these writ petitions raise an identical question of law and fact, they are being disposed of by way this common order.

3. In all these cases, the students, who have sought admission into MBBS and BDS Courses for the academic years 2025-26, have approached this Court, challenging the requirement, in the Notification dated 22.07.2025, issued by the Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, for admission into MBBS / BDS Courses, for the academic year 2025-26, prescribing a requirement that the applicant should have studied or resided, in the local area where he/she is seeking to obtain admission, for a period of not less than four consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which the candidate had appeared for the relevant qualifying examination.

5. In all the above cases, the petitioners are students, who had pursued a major part of their school education in the State of Andhra Pradesh, but had pursued their + 2 education (11^th& 12^th classes or Intermediate) outside the State of Andhra Pradesh.

6. The petitioners contend that Regulation 7.1 of the said Notification, stipulates that admission to 85% of the available seats are reserved in favour of local candidates, in relation to the “local area” as provided under the A.P. Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission) Order, 1974. Regulation 7.2 divides the entire State of Andhra Pradesh into two local areas, viz., Andhra University Area and Sri Venkateswara University Area. Regulation 7.3 defines “local candidates”.

7. The said Regulation 7.3 reads as follows:

“7.3 Local Candidates The Local Candidate Means:

(A) A candidate for admission shall be regarded as a local candidate in relation to a local area. –

(a) If he /she has studied in educational Institution or educational Institutions in such local area for a period of not less than four consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which he/she appeared or as the case may be, first appeared in the relevant qualifying examination, or

(b) Where, during the whole or any part of the four consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which he/she appeared or, as the case may be, first appeared for the relevant qualifying examination, he/she has not studied in any educational Institutions, if he/she has resided in that local area for a period of not less than four years immediately he/she appeared or, as the case may be, first appeared.

(B) A Candidate for admission to the course who is not regarded as local candidate under clause (A) in relation to any local area shall, -

(a) If he/she has studied in educational Institutions in the State for a period of not less than seven consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which he/she appeared or, as the case may be, first appeared for the relevant qualifying examination be regarded as a local candidate in relation to, -

(i) Such local area where he/she has studied for the maximum period out of said period of seven years, or

(ii) Where the period of his/her study in two local areas are equal, such local area, where he/she has studied last in such equal period, or

(c) If, during the whole or any part of seven consecutive academic years ending with the academic year in which he/she appeared or, as the case may be, first appeared for the relevant qualifying examinat