NEET PG 2025 Latest Updates: Supreme Court Abolishes Domicile-Based Reservation in PG Medical Admissions

The Supreme Court Abolishes Domicile-Based Reservation in PG Medical Admissions citing it a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. From now on, there will be no state-quota seats in NEET PG. The admission will be based solely on the common merit list. The state quota in NEET UG is still valid

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NEET PG Domicile Reservation abolished: The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has passed a crucial judgment regarding NEET PG Reservations. The Supreme Court of India has abolished the Domicile-Based reservation quota in NEET PG Medical Admissions. From now admission to postgraduate medical courses will be conducted on a merit-based via NEET PG Scores.

In a significant ruling on Wednesday (January 29), the Supreme Court declared that reservations for postgraduate medical seats based on domicile are unconstitutional, as they violate Article 14 of the Constitution.

NEET PG Domicile Reservation abolished -SC Orders

The Supreme Court judgment on quashing the domicile based reservation in PG medical admission will have a significant impact on PG medical admission and will be applicable on both NEET PG, INI CET or any other exams at the postgraduate level.

The ruling establishes an important precedent, requiring that postgraduate medical admissions under state quotas be based exclusively on merit as determined by the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for Post Graduates.

NEET PG Reservation Supreme Court Decision

A three-judge bench comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy, Sudhanshu Dhulia and SVN Bhatti pronounced that, “Residence-based reservation in PG medical courses is clearly violative of Article 14 of the Constitution”.

The court clearly stated that state-mandated residency requirements for entry into postgraduate medical programs violate the constitutional right to equality and are not justifiable.

NEET PG 2025 Latest News: SC’s Observation on Domicile-Based Reservation

The SC Bench observed that, “We are all domiciles in the territory of India. There is nothing like a provincial or state domicile. There is only one domicile. We are all residents of India”.

The Hon’ble underscores that Article 19 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right to reside, trade, and pursue a profession anywhere in the country. The court emphasized that the Constitution grants the right to apply for admission to educational institutions throughout India, and that any domicile-based limitations at the postgraduate level undermine this fundamental principle.

Validity of domicile based Reservation NEET PG 2025

The SC has quashed the domicile residence-based reservation for NEET PG, however, the SC has upheld the state-level quota in the NEET UG exam. The court recognized that a certain level of reservation based on residency might be acceptable for undergraduate (MBBS) admissions. However, it firmly stated that applying these policies to postgraduate medical programs, which require specialization and expertise, would be unconstitutional.

The SC stance on this matter states, “Considering the importance of specialised doctors in PG medical courses, reservation in higher levels on the basis of residence would be violative of Article 14 of the Constitution”. That is why, the court observed that at UG level, domicile reservation quota is as per the law but not valid in case on specialized PG medical courses.

Will SC Decision on Domicile-Based Reservation Impact Current/Previous Students

The court invalidated domicile reservations for future admissions but offered support to students who are presently enrolled or have already finished their PG medical education through these programs.

The bench clarified in this regard that, “This judgment will not affect the domicile reservation already granted. Students who are undergoing PG courses and those who have already passed out from such residence category will not be affected”.

Supreme Court Decision on domicile based reservation NEET PG

The Supreme Court has announced a ruling on a bunch of petitions arising out of appeals over admission to PG medical courses at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh.

In 2019, a two-judge panel of the Supreme Court addressed appeals related to a ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court that deemed domicile reservations in postgraduate medical admissions unconstitutional in the case of Dr. Tanvi Behl (SV) vs. Shrey Goel and Others.

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, particularly since Chandigarh has only one medical college, the Supreme Court referred the case to a larger bench for a definitive ruling. The three-judge bench has now clarified that admissions to postgraduate medical programs must be based on merit and that no state is allowed to enforce restrictive domicile requirements.

Is State Quota Removed in NEET PG 2025?

The Supreme Court has ruled that domicile-based reservations in PG medical courses are unconstitutional, as they violate Article 14 (Right to Equality). A three-judge bench held that State quota PG seats must be filled purely on merit through the NEET PG exam. However, The state quota in NEET-UG is still valid.