Andhra Pradesh migrant Marri Chandra Shekhar Rao moved court in Bombay after state-run colleges gave admission but refused him reservation, as Gouda was not a recognised Scheduled Tribe in Maharashtra, as in Andhra.
Judge cites a 1985 ministry circular to establish that a tribal is only entitled to reservation in his home state
In 1990, his plea against Dean, Seth GS Medical College, reached Chief Justice Sabyasachi Mukharji. The judge cited a home ministry circular of 1985 to establish that Rao was only entitled to reservation in his home state. He, however, also noted, that “we must do justice,”
pointing out that Rao had progressed in his studies, which should not summarily end.
The judge dismissed the petition but left it open-ended for “authorities to take appropriate action about the continuance or discontinuance of the petitioner in his studies…” It is not known whether Rao continued.
