OCI cannot be admitted on a govt MBBS seat: High court

OCI cannot be admitted on a govt MBBS seat: High court

TNN | Oct 17, 2023, 11.05 AM IST

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Monday dismissed an appeal by a medical student, who holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, for admission to a medical course in the general category. The HC disposed of the appeal with the observation that an OCI cannot be equated to a citizen of India. 

This case involved Vatsa Shah, a British passport holder. In 2019, he wanted admission to the MBBS course, but the admissions committee for professional undergraduate medical education courses denied him admission. Upon the HC’s direction, the student applied for admission under the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) quota and was granted admission and he is now to complete his studies.

The issue pending in this case was limited to whether an OCI can be admitted in the general category.

The student contended the government notification issued in 2017 treated OCI card holders on a par with NRIs so far as matters of education is concerned, and thus an OCI card holder was entitled to get admission in the general category.

The state government objected to this and submitted that the rules changed later and asserted that an OCI or an NRI cannot get admission on a government seat.