The court upheld the validity of residency criteria for local candidate status in educational admissions, affirming no arbitrary discrimination under Article 14 as the requirement serves a rational legislative purpose.

ORDER :

Heard Sri B.Mayur Reddy, learned Senior Counsel representing Sri Alluri Divakar Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner, Ms. K.Swapna Madhuri, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Medical and Health appearing for respondent No.1, Sri T.Sharath, learned Standing Counsel for Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences appearing for respondent No.2 and perused the record.

2. This writ petition, is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, with the following prayer viz.,

It is therefore prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to issue a writ or order or direction more particularly in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of respondent No 2 in not treating the petitioner as Local candidate for admission into MBBS/BDS for the academic year 2025-26 in pursuant to NEET (UG) 2025 despite receipt of petitioner's representation dated 10.09.2025 as being illegal and arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 19 and 21 of Constitution of India, consequently direct the respondent No. 2 to treat the petitioner as a Local candidate for all the purposes of Admission into MBBS & BDS Courses for the Academic year 2025-26 under the aegis of KNR University of Health Sciences, Telangana State and to pass such other orders as the Hon'ble Court may deem fit in the circumstances of this case and in the interest of justice.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner completed his Class I to X at Nidamanoor Mandal, Nalgonda District in Telangana State. However, pursued his Intermediate i.e., Class XI and XII from Vijayawada in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, after he was qualified NEET (UG)-2025 he sought admission under the ‘Competent Authority Quota’ which is reserved for local candidates.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner, in the underlying writ petition contends as follows:

i. that an application for admission into MBBS/BDS courses was made to respondent No.2-University for the academic year 2025-26 and accordingly respondent No.2 issued the admission prospectus which were issued pursuant to the Telangana Medical & Dental Colleges Admission Rules, 2017 (for short ‘Rules 2017’) as amended by G.O.Ms.No.33, dated 19.07.2024 and released a notification dated 16.07.2025 for online registration for the said courses, wherein the prospectus, mandated compulsory submission of a residence certificate as per Annexure-II, stipulating four years of continuous study or residence in Telangana prior to the qualifying examination.

ii. that the said requirement contradicts and violates the binding directions of this Court in order dated 05.09.2024 in W.P.No.21910 of 2024 and Batch and in order dated 29.08.2023 in W.P.No.21268 of 2023 and Batch wherein this Court has held that a residence certificate is sufficient for categorization as a local candidate.

iii. that the said the Regulations were framed in pursuant to Rule.3(a) of Rules 2017 as amended vide GO. Ms. No.33 dated 19.07.2024, as framed under the Telangana Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 1983.

iv. that as per regulation 2.2 of the prospectus, he is treated as non-local even though he is permanent resident of Telangana State which is violative of orders of the passed in W.P.No.21910 of 2024 and Batch and in W.P.No.21268 of 2023 and Batch.

5. We have taken note of the respective contentions urged.

6. It is pertinent to note that though the learned counsel for the petitioner has vehemently contended and relied on the judgments of this Court in W.P.No.21268 of 2023 and Batch, dated 29.08.2023 and in W.P.No.21910 of 2024 a