High Court of Karnataka Considers Challenge to MEH Category Seat Matrix by Linguistic Minority Medical College. The Court examined the consensual agreement dated 19.01.2022 and Section 4A of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2006, to determine whether the State's categorization of seats as 'MEH Category' violated the petitioner's rights under Article 30(1) of the Constitution.

Writ petitions under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging the revised seat matrix for undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions, alleging violation of linguistic minority rights.

Petitioner sought a writ of mandamus and certiorari to declare the revised seat matrix as arbitrary and illegal, to quash the revised matrix, and to direct counselling as per earlier matrix allowing Telugu linguistic minority students from entire Karnataka to apply.

The revised seat matrix published on 31.01.2022 categorised seats as 'MEH category', restricting admissions to Telugu linguistic minority students only from Hyderabad-Karnataka region, thereby excluding Telugu minorities from other parts of Karnataka, which the petitioner claimed violated its rights under Article 30(1) and the consensual agreement.

A similar question regarding the State's authority to classify seats reserved for Telugu linguistic minority students as only for Hyderabad-Karnataka region was pending consideration in W.P. No.20201/2014 and connected matters, and was not considered in this case.

Whether the revised seat matrix classifying seats as 'MEH category' and restricting admissions to Telugu linguistic minority students only from Hyderabad-Karnataka region is arbitrary, illegal, and violative of Article 30(1) of the Constitution and Section 4A of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2006. Whether the State has authority to classify seats reserved for Telugu linguistic minority students as seats available only to students from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region (not considered due to pendency of similar issue).

Petitioner argued that the revised seat matrix categorising certain seats as 'MEH category' was highly arbitrary, illegal, and violative of its constitutional rights under Article 30(1), and that the State had no authority to restrict the linguistic minority quota to Hyderabad-Karnataka region alone. The matter involved interpretation of the consensual agreement dated 19.01.2022 and Section 4A of the Act of 2006.

Lack of consensus among the contracting parties to the consensual agreement dated 19.01.2022, in interpreting and implementing its terms has brought this lis before the court. the petitioner has also sought a declaration that respondent/State has no authority to classify the seats reserved for Telugu Linguistic minority students in the petitioner’s institution, as the seats available for admission only to Telugu linguistic minority students from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. However, the claim regarding this prayer is not considered as a similar question is pending consideration in W.P. no.20201/2014 and connected matters. The ‘consensual agreement’ dated 19.01.2022 for the academic year 2021-22, entered into among the 1st respondent-State, 5th respondent the Association of Minority Professional Colleges in Karnataka and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, which is intended to record the consensus, among the contracting parties, in respect of seat-sharing arrangement in minority professional educational institutions, incidentally, is the cause for the present petition.

The writ petitions were filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging the revised seat matrix dated 31.01.2022. The matters were heard on 07.03.2022, 08.03.2022, and 11.03.2022, and reserved for orders. Orders were pronounced on 15.03.2022 by Anant Ramanath Hegde J., with K. Somashekar J. present.

• Constitution of India: Article 30(1)
• Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulations of Admission and Determination of Fee) Act, 2006: Section 4A