The Dharwad Bench says candidates opting for the NRI quota cannot simultaneously claim reservation under the OBC or other social categories under the applicable counselling scheme
The Karnataka High Court has rejected a medical aspirant’s plea to combine the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota with Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 counselling process.
A Division Bench comprising Justice M Nagaprasanna and Justice Hema Kulkarni ruled that the NRI quota is a separate, unreserved category under the applicable counselling scheme and that candidates can opt for only one type of reservation. The order was passed on September 9 in Juhi v Union of India and Others.
The petitioner, an 18-year-old student from Belagavi, Karnataka, sought admission to undergraduate medical courses under the NRI-sponsored category, with sponsorship from her paternal aunt. She also sought to retain the benefits of her OBC non-creamy layer status under Karnataka’s 2A category.
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The student argued that opting for the NRI-sponsored category should not deprive her of the reservation benefits associated with her social category
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She asked the court to allow her to participate in the remaining counselling rounds under the proposed combined NRI-OBC category
The Union government’s counsel opposed the plea, submitting that the candidate had scored 48.33 per cent and had not met the qualifying threshold for consideration under the NRI quota.
In its order, the court referred to Question 36 of the NEET-UG 2026 Information Bulletin and Counselling Scheme. The provision states that NRI, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) candidates can access seats designated for the NRI category, general seats under the All India Quota and seats in deemed universities, but may opt for only one type of reservation.
The Bench said the notified framework did not permit candidates to combine NRI quota eligibility with SC, ST or OBC reservation. It also noted that the petitioner had not met the required marks threshold for consideration under the NRI category.
Finding no merit in the petition, the High Court dismissed it.
