In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court favored the Nagaland Government regarding Vatsala Panghal’s claim for one MBBS seat from the central pool designated for Nagaland. This verdict concludes a prolonged legal dispute, establishing a crucial legal precedent that non-indigenous candidates are not entitled to seats allocated to the state. The case originated in July 2025 when Panghal, who achieved a score of 455 in NEET-UG 2025 and held an All-India Rank of 113,803, contended that she ranked second within Nagaland. The legal proceedings progressed through the Gauhati High Court’s Kohima and Division Benches, with the state’s position argued by Vihelieu Suokhrie, the Additional Advocate General. The Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene with the judgments and orders of the Gauhati High Court resulted in the dismissal of the Special Leave Petition and any associated interlocutory applications. This ruling was reached after extensive preparation, strategic advocacy, and steadfast commitment from the legal team led by K.N. Balgopal, the Advocate General of Nagaland.
SC restricts Nagaland’s central pool MBBS seat to indigenous candidates
