File counter affidavit in plea over local candidate status in MDS admissions: HC to government

The Telangana High Court instructed the State government to file a counter affidavit in response to a petition filed by Voni Sahith, a 27-year-old BDS degree holder from a scheduled tribe in Warangal district. Sahith challenged the decision of Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences to classify him as a non-local candidate for the MDS course admission for the 2026-27 academic year.

The Advocates General, A. Sudarshan Reddy, informed the court that according to the Presidential Order of 1974, only candidates who completed MBBS/BAMS/BHMS from the local area as defined by the order are eligible for admission into PG medical courses for the academic year 2025-26. The AG argued that Sahith, who received a scholarship to study BDS in a medical college in Andhra Pradesh, cannot be considered a local candidate, as doing so would undermine the purpose of the local category criteria set by the order.

Sahith's counsel, A. Diwakar Reddy, contended that the coordinate bench order from the HC's earlier decision on medical admissions in Telangana Dental Colleges, including MDS courses, was being challenged in the current petition. After hearing both parties, the bench directed the State government to file a counter affidavit within two weeks.