The Telangana High Court has granted interim relief to a Lambadi NEET aspirant, directing Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) to allow her to participate in the second phase of MBBS and BDS counselling as a local candidate. The order was passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin while hearing a petition filed by Chawan Aarthi, who challenged her exclusion from the Telangana Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation list. The court clarified that her participation in the counselling process will remain subject to the final outcome of the pending writ petition.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that Aarthi’s parents had been issued valid Scheduled Tribe community certificates by the competent authority in Vikarabad, recognising them as members of the Lambadi (ST) community. It was also submitted that Aarthi had completed the last four years of her education in Telangana, making her eligible to be considered a local candidate. However, KNRUHS opposed the plea, stating that she belonged to a list of candidates who had migrated from Karnataka and Maharashtra and therefore could not claim Telangana ST reservation. The University also referred to an earlier communication in which Aarthi had allegedly stated that she would not seek Telangana ST benefits.
After considering the submissions, the High Court observed that the community certificates and other records produced by the petitioner prima facie justified allowing her to participate in the counselling process. The court directed KNRUHS and the Social Welfare Department to submit their counter-affidavits before the next hearing. The matter has been posted for September 30, while Aarthi will be permitted to take part in the ongoing counselling process until a final decision is delivered.
