The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to give clarification on the application of the notifications issued under the Citizenship Act giving certain rights for access to education for students belonging to the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders.
Justice Krishna S. Dixit directed the Secretary of the MEA to hold consultations with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the clarifications, while cautioning that the court may have to summon the higher officer of the Ministry if a proper clarification is not submitted before the court within two weeks as the matter touches upon the interests of OCI students.
The court passed the order after Assistant Solicitor General of India C. Shashikantha, while replying to the court’s queries, said he had sought clarification of rights of OCI candidates as well as whether they are eligible to appear for only pre-medical entrance tests or similar tests for other courses.
The order was issued during the hearing of petitions filed during 2015-18 by several OCI students, who are seeking admission to medical, dental, engineering, agricultural and veterinary science courses under government quota, both in government and private colleges.
It was contended on behalf of the OCI students that their right cannot be coterminous with rights of NRIs as the notification issued in 2009 had different meaning giving more wider rights for the OCI students.
However, it was contended on behalf of the State government that OCI category students, who are not citizens of India, can be admitted based on the norms applicable for admission of NRI candidates. The State also contended that the OCI candidates, as per the notifications issued under the Citizenship Act, can be admitted only for medical courses and they cannot be considered for admission to any other branches of education.
Further hearing was adjourned till March 18.