GUWAHATI: In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Adiz Zaman, the Supreme Court has taken the decision to temporarily suspend the implementation of the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota for MBBS admissions in Assam.
The PIL raised significant concerns about the reservation of medical seats for NRIs, which required a payment of ₹18 lakh per seat. The Supreme Court's directive has put a halt to the NRI quota until further deliberation.
The Assam government's pioneering move in June 2023, introducing a 10 per cent reservation of seats in MBBS courses for NRI students across the state, has garnered widespread attention and triggered a legal intervention.
Advocate Adiz Zaman's PIL specifically challenged the NRI quota arrangement that necessitated a substantial payment of ₹18 lakh per seat for reservation.
While defending its decision, the state government cited the necessity to adapt admission rules due to the expansion of medical seat capacity within Assam.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressing the increased capacity, disclosed that amendments were made to the admission rules for MBBS and BDS courses in the state.
According to the proposed NRI quota scheme, 10 per cent of the remaining total MBBS seats, following deductions for quotas like the 15 per cent All India Quota, Central Poll, and Northeastern Council quota, were allocated for NRI and NRI-sponsored students.
Chief Minister Sarma emphasised the importance of maintaining requisite academic qualifications, stating that candidates seeking admission through the NRI quota must successfully clear the NEET UG examination.
