Hrishikesh Roy, J.

These cases pertain to admission of students into the State quota seats (85%) for the MBBS/BDS course in the medical/dental colleges of Assam. The common grievance of all the petitioners is their disqualification since they studied from Class-VI to X at schools, outside of Assam. The admissions are regulated by the Medical Colleges of Assam and Regional Dental College, Guwahati (Regulation of Admission into 1st Year MBBS/BDS Courses) Rules, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as the “2015 Rules”) and substitution of Rule 3(1)(c), by the amendment notification of 30.01.2016, has led to deprivation of the petitioners. Therefore, the candidates who secured high ranks in the 2016 entrance test, have questioned the legal validity of the amended provision by raising common contentions.

2. Heard the learned Sr. counsel Mr. A. Dasgupta and Mr. H.R.A. Choudhury and the learned advocate Mr. U. Dutta, who made submission for the petitioners in this series. Mr. D. Saikia, the learned Addl. Advocate General argues for the State respondents. The Dibrugarh Unive