HC extends local quota benefit to children of central govt employees | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: In a significant interim relief with implications for medical admissions in Telangana, the high court has directed that children of central govt employees be treated on a par with children of state govt employees for determining local candidature in MBBS and BDS admissions, pending a formal rule amendment.The court’s order extends the benefit to children of employees of central govt corporations and central public sector undertakings who were compelled to study outside Telangana due to their parents’ official transfers.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Kodimela Samhitha, a NEET-UG 2026 qualifier.Samhitha’s father, an employee of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), was posted outside Telangana between 2016 and 2024, resulting in her pursuing her education in Andhra Pradesh.“The relief granted to the petitioner shall operate pro tanto (only to this petition) pending the issuance of the formal amendment by the state govt,” the bench clarified.According to the petitioner, the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Rules, 2017, as amended in Sept 2025, excluded children of central govt and central govt corporation employees from an exception available to students who could not complete four consecutive years of study in Telangana because of a parent’s official transfer.Petitioner’s counsel Rajkumar Gummi argued that the rules already extended the benefit to children of state govt employees, All India Services officers, defence personnel and employees of state govt corporations in similar circumstances. He contended that excluding children of central govt employees was arbitrary, discriminatory and violative of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, particularly when the court had previously highlighted the same issue in a similar case.The state’s counsel acknowledged that the rationale behind the existing exception should logically apply to children of central govt employees as well and informed the court that a rule amendment was under consideration.Taking note of the state’s stand, the bench refrained from examining the constitutional validity of the provision. Instead, it directed that the proviso be read, with immediate effect, to include children of central govt employees, central govt corporations and central PSUs.The court also declared the petitioner a local candidate and permitted her to participate in the counselling process, while directing the state govt to bring in a formal amendment to the rules at the earliest.
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