Supreme Court Terms NRI Quota in Admission as “Complete Fraud”

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the NRI quota system in college admissions was nothing but a fraud, while dismissing the Punjab government’s appeal against a high court order that junked amended rules to avail admission to MBBS courses through this quota.

The Punjab government had, in a notification dated August 20, widened the definition of an NRI candidate and made relatives of Non-Resident Indians (NRI) eligible to seek admission to the MBBS course under this quota.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled against this notification observing that it would open the door for potential misuse.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, “You are saying the nearest relation of NRI will also be considered. what is this? just a money-spinning tactic by the state.”

The bench supported the high court order.

“We must stop this NRI quota business now! This is a complete fraud. This is what we are doing to our education system,” the Chief Justice said. “Look at the result. Those who got marks three times high won’t get admission,” he added.

Justice Pardiwala said all the applicants are from India. “They are just relatives, tai (aunt), taau (uncle), chacha, chachi.”

The Chief Justice said, “What is a ward? you just have to say I am looking after X.” He said the court cannot back something that is “blatantly illegal”.