Domicile-based eligibility criteria for medical admissions are unconstitutional as they violate the principle of equality under Article 14.

Uday Umesh Lalit, J.

1. This petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India has been filed by 44 Doctors who did their MBBS/BDS Courses from State of Karnataka and have cleared the NEET-PG, 2018 examination with high merit position and are aspiring for admission to Post-Graduate Courses in Karnataka. The principal prayer in the writ petition seeks issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction quashing Clause 4 of the Information NEELAM GULATI Date: 2018.04.04 17:09:29 IST Reason: Karnataka and Karnataka Examinations Authority, Government of Karnataka, Respondent Nos.2 and 3 respectively.

2. The Information Bulletin in question lays down, inter alia, conditions for admission to Post-Graduate Medical and Dental Courses in respect of government quota seats in Medical/Dental Colleges in State of Karnataka and was published on the website on 10.03.2018. Relevant portion of Clause 4 of this Information Bulletin deals with eligibility conditions in following terms:

“4. ELIGIBILITY

4.1 ELIGIBILITY for Government seats (G) &GMP seats A candidate who fulfills the following criteria is eligible to appear for the online seat allotment process, namely:-

•He/she is a citizen of India, who is of Karnataka Origin and has studied MBBS or BDS degree in a Medical or Dental College situated in Karnataka or outside Karnataka and affiliated to any University established by law in India recognized by Medical Council of India or Dental Council of India and Government of India and has qualified in the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) for admission to post graduate medical or dental degree/diploma courses.

Note: Children for the purpose of the rule means natural born son/daughter and not adopted son/daughter and not grandson/grand daughter.

Explanation: A candidate of Karnataka Origin: means, a candidate found eligible under clause A or B below.

(Clause A)

i) A candidate who has studied and passed in one or more Government or Government recognized, educational institutions located in the State of Karnataka for a minimum period of TEN academic years as on the 31^st March, 2018, commencing for 1^st standard to MBBS/BDS and must have appeared and passed either SSLC/10^th standard or 2^nd PUC/12^th standard examination from Karnataka State. In case of the candidate who has taken more than one year to pass a class or standard, the year of academic study is counted as one year only (Document to be produced)

(Clause B)

ii) The candidate should have studied and passed 1^st and 2^nd year Pre-University Examination or 11^th or 12^th standard examination within the State of Karnataka from an Educational Institution run or recognized by the State Government or MBBS/BDS from a professional educational institution located in Karnataka and that either of the parents must have studied/resided in Karnataka for a minimum period of 10 years. (Documents to be produced)”

3. It is submitted by the petitioners that this Information Bulletin issued by Respondent Nos.2 and 3, to the extent Clause 4.1 thereof imposes a condition of domicile for admission to MD, MS and Post-Graduate Diploma seats in State of Karnataka is invalid and unconstitutional. According to the petitioners said Clause 4.1 arbitrarily and illegally deprives the petitioners who had obtained MBBS/BDS Degrees from the Colleges situated in Karnataka from competing for admission to Post-Graduate Medical/Dental Curses in Government Medical Colleges and against Government quota seats in non-Governmental institutions. Reliance has been placed on the Judgment of this Court in Vishal Goyal and Others v. State of Karnataka and Others, (2014) 11 SCC 456 to