Caste certificates from one state are not valid for educational admissions in another state, regardless of recognition as Scheduled Castes in both, affirming constitutional provisions and prior Supreme Court rulings.

ORDER :

SUJOY PAUL, A.C.J.

Regard being had to the similitude of the questions involved, these matters were analogously heard and decided by this common order.

Facts:-

2. The facts are taken from W.P.No.1255 of 2025. The petitioner has challenged the legality, validity and constitutionality of Clause 4.2 of the prospectus which according to her has an adverse impact on the prospects of the petitioner. The petitioner studied from 1^st standard to 12^th standard in the State of Andhra Pradesh and completed 12^th standard in the year 2016. She appeared for NEET UG 2016 and secured admission through ‘B’ category on merit basis and allotted to Mallareddy Medical College for Women’s, Hyderabad, Telangana, for academic year 2016-17. Accordingly, she completed her MBBS course and passed Final examination in the month of April, 2021 with registration number 1601020028. She also completed her one year compulsory rotatory internship in the same college from 01.06.2021 and 31.05.2022. Though, she appeared for NEET PG 2022 and 2023, she could not secure good score.

3. The National Board of Examination in Medical Science (NBEMS) has issued Notification for Admission to Post Graduate courses NEET PG 2024 on 16.04.2024, exam was conducted on 11.08.2024 and results were declared on 23.08.2024. The petitioner appeared for the said examination with registration number PG24086163 and secured All India Rank of 51285. The petitioner belongs to Schedule Caste (SC) (Mala) Community and holds caste certificate issued by the State of Andhra Pradesh dated 24.04.2024, which certifies that she belongs to Mala (SC) Community, which is recognized as Scheduled Community/Caste under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe List (Modification) Order, 1956 and the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Amendment) Act, 1976 as amended from time to time.

4. On 30.10.2024, Respondent No.2 issued prospectus for admissions into PG Medical Degree and Diploma Courses under the Competent Quota for 2024-2025. On the same day, a notification was also issued stating that online applications and certificates uploading shall begin at 06:00 AM on 31.10.2024 and close at 06:00 PM on 07.11.2024. Pursuant to the said notification, the petitioner registered for postgraduate medical admission under competent quota for the academic year 2024-25 by paying requisite fee.

5. The petitioner is not treated to be ‘local candidate’ in view of hurdle created by Rule VIII of the Telangana Medical Colleges (Admission into Postgraduate Medical Courses) Rules, 2021, as amended by G.O.Ms.No.148, dated 28.10.2024. Aggrieved, the petitioner assailed the said Rule in W.P.No.31317 of 2024, which was decided on 17.12.2024. In obedience of judgment of Division Bench in the said Writ Petition, the petitioner was treated as ‘local candidate’, but her caste certificate issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh was not accepted. In the result, the petitioner was treated to be general category candidate and benefit of reservation was not given to her. The impugned Clause 4.2 became part of the prospectus with effect from 16.04.2024, whereas the admission process began much before that.

Contention of the petitioners:-

6. The petitioners in all these Writ Petitions have assailed the prospectus and a