Supreme Court to Reassess Military Benefits in Medical College Admissions

The Supreme Court will review a case involving the reservation of medical course seats for children of ex-servicemen and Armed Forces personnel. Petitioners argue the current policy is biased, favoring military over Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and are challenging a Telangana High Court ruling upholding this reservation.

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a plea challenging the reservation policy for medical course seats benefiting children of ex-servicemen and Armed Forces personnel. The existing rule, reserving one percent of available seats, is under scrutiny for potentially excluding children of Central Armed Police Force personnel.

A bench led by Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih issued a notice seeking responses from the state of Telangana, the Centre, and others involved. This action comes after the Telangana High Court upheld the rule, but critics argue it discriminates against the wards of CAPF personnel, including those from the BSF.

While some courses in Telangana permit CAPF wards to benefit from reservation, the high court determined existing rules are not unconstitutional. The debate continues over whether CAPF personnel's children should receive the same benefits as those from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

(With inputs from agencies.)