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4 hours ago
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The High Court of Karnataka has directed the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to amend its notification/prospectus from next academic year, clearly indicating that as per the Supreme Court’s judgement the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders born before March 4, 2021, would be treated on par with Indian citizens for admission to professional courses.
A Division Bench comprising Justice D.K. Singh and Justice Venkatesh Naik T. passed the order while allowing two petitions filed by OCI cardholders, Shreyas C.M. of Bengaluru and Mukul P.K. of Mysuru.
The petitioners had complained that despite the SC’s February 2023 judgement in the case of Anushka Rengunthwar and others vs. Union of India on eligibility of OCI cardholders to claim seats under government quota, the KEA’s notification/brochure for 2025-26 academic year had stated that “no candidate shall be eligible for admission to Government seats, unless he is a citizen of India and satisfies any one of the eligibility condition specified therein.”
The KEA’s notification had further stated that “the candidates who have not qualified the eligibility criteria are not liable for admission to professional courses under government seats through KEA. Eligibility for OCI/PIO candidates for government seats shall be as per the direction of the government.”
Meanwhile, the State government had told the court that the rules on eligibility criteria for admission has been amended in tune with the judgment of the Supreme Court in Anushka Rengunthwar’s case but are yet to be notified.
As the Supreme Court had already decided that OCI cardholders and who were born before March 4, 2021, should be treated as Citizens of India for the purpose of admission etc., the Bench said that KEA’s notification/prospectus on eligibility of OCI students was contrary to the SC’s verdict while directing the latter to amend the notification/prospectus/brochure from next year.
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