The High Court of Karnataka has directed the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to amend its notification/prospectus from next academic year, clearly stating that as per the judgment of the Supreme Court, the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders born before March 4, 2021 would be treated on par with Indian citizens for admission to professional courses.
A division bench comprising Justice DK Singh and Justice Venkatesh Naik T. passed the order while allowing two petitions filed by OCI cardholders, Shreyas CM of Bengaluru and Mukul PK of Mysuru.
The petitioners had complained that despite the SC's February 2023 judgment in the case of Anushka Rengunthwar and others vs. Union of India on the eligibility of OCI card holders to claim seats under government quota, the KEA notification/brochure for the academic year 2025-26 stated that “no candidate shall be eligible for admission to government seats unless he is a citizen of India and fulfills any of the eligibility conditions specified therein.”
The KEA notification further stated that “the candidates who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be liable for admission to professional courses under government seats through KEA. Eligibility for OCI/PIO candidates for government seats will be in accordance with the directions of the government.”
Meanwhile, the state government had informed the court that the rules on eligibility criteria have been changed in accordance with the Supreme Court's judgment in Anushka Rengunthwar's case, but no notification is yet to be issued.
Since the Supreme Court had already decided that OCI cardholders born before March 4, 2021 should be treated as citizens of India for the purpose of admission etc., the Bench said that KEA's notification/prospectus on the eligibility of OCI students was contrary to the SC's judgment while directing the latter to amend the notification/prospectus/brochure from next year.
Published – Oct 14, 2025 8:57 PM IST
