Supreme Court Denounces Punjab's Expanded NRI Quota as Fraud

The court upheld the high court's decision to nullify the Punjab government's attempt to broaden the NRI quota to include distant relatives for medical and dental admissions.

The Supreme Court dismissed Punjab's appeal against the high court's ruling that quashed the state's expanded NRI quota for medical and dental courses.
Punjab's August 20 notification sought to include distant relatives of NRIs, such as uncles, aunts, and cousins, under the NRI quota.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud criticized the move as a 'money-spinning tactic' and a 'complete fraud' detrimental to the education system.
The court emphasized that the expanded quota would unfairly disadvantage more meritorious students in favor of less qualified candidates with NRI connections.
Approximately 185 NRI quota seats exist in Punjab's medical and dental colleges, many of which remain vacant due to a lack of eligible candidates.