Supreme Court Stays Bombay HC Verdict on Goa's 3% MBBS Quota for Govt Employees' Children

Supreme Court Stays Bombay HC Verdict on Goa's 3% MBBS Quota for Govt Employees' Children

September 30, 2025

Panaji: The Supreme Court has stirred the education scene in Goa by admitting appeals against the Bombay High Court’s decision that wiped out the 3% quota given by the Goa government. This quota reserved seats for children of central and state government employees seeking admission to MBBS and other degree courses within the state. Back in August, the High Court ruled that this reservation, covering children of government employees and private job holders applying through NEET for first-year professional courses and BSc nursing too, was invalid. Why? The court said the quota violated Article 14 of the Constitution, questioning the logic and fairness behind it. But hold on! A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran has now stayed this verdict. They clearly said, “We clarify that the stay of the impugned judgment granted by this court would mean that Goa govt will proceed with the admission for the present academic year on the basis of the prospectus issued by state govt.” This means Goa’s government can go ahead with admissions keeping the 3% reservation intact—for now. However, the judges also added that all admissions done under this stay will be subject to the final outcome of the appeals. So, the ball is still in the court! What kinds of candidates get this benefit? It’s for those whose parents work for the central government, central public sector undertakings, defence, or paramilitary forces in Goa before the year of admission or who have been transferred to Goa up to the application date. The Bombay High Court had slammed the quota, saying, “We find that the classification that is created is not based on any intelligible differentia, nor does it have any nexus with the object of the selection process.” The court emphasized, "Merit, and merit alone, must be allowed to explore to the fullest extent, for every seat is to be filled in on merits, which receive relaxation by reservation contemplated by the Constitution or by a statute, i.e., an Act of Parliament or any law made by the state legislature." For now, Goa students and their parents wait anxiously. Will this reservation stand the final test? The Supreme Court’s upcoming hearings will decide the fate of this 3% quota. Stay tuned for this legal drama with huge stakes for aspiring doctors in Goa!

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Tags: Supreme court, Goa government, 3% reservation, Mbbs admission, Bombay high court verdict, Neet,

Murari Shetye

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