Supreme Court Flags “New Fraud” in Medical Admissions via Religious Conversion

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken a strong stand against attempts to manipulate the medical admissions system through fraudulent religious conversions. Two upper-caste candidates reportedly adopted Buddhism to seek admission under the minority quota in postgraduate medical courses, prompting the court to describe the move as an infringement on the rights of genuine minority candidates.

The case came up on Tuesday when the petitioners approached the court claiming they had converted to Buddhism and produced certificates issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). However, when questioned about their caste, the candidates revealed they were Jats. The court observed, “You belong to the upper-caste category. How can you then be considered a minority?”

The Supreme Court expressed concern over such “new methods of fraud” in medical admissions, noting that it undermines opportunities for real minority students. The petitioners had initially applied for the NEET-PG 2025 under the general category but sought to switch to the Buddhist minority quota for admission to a medical college in Uttar Pradesh.

The bench has directed the Chief Secretary of Haryana to submit a detailed report within two weeks, clarifying the basis on which the minority certificates were issued to these candidates. The court also sought to know the explicit guidelines followed for issuing minority certificates and whether an upper-caste candidate can legally be considered a Buddhist minority.

The matter highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring fairness in quota-based admissions and the need for stringent verification of minority status.