The Supreme Court today condemned the expansion of the non-resident Indian (NRI) quota in Punjab’s medical colleges. The Apex Court, calling it a fraud, observed that such steps give way to backdoor entries and force meritorious students out of the admission process. The Top Court dismissed a set of petitions challenging Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order, which quashed the Punjab Government’s notification to broaden the ambit of NRI Quota in medical admission.

The bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra quashed the 20th August notification, widening the definition of non-resident Indian for MBBS admissions.

Earlier, the High Court on the 11th of this month struck down the notification, terming it to be ‘unjustified’ as it defeated the original purpose of the NRI Quota—to give genuine NRIs a chance to come to India to study.