# Telangana HC allows Vikarabad student to join MBBS, BDS counselling 2026-09-16T01:27:14+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets The Telangana High Court has directed KNRUHS to permit Chawan Aarthi, a student from Vikarabad, to participate in the second phase of MBBS and BDS counselling as a local candidate under the Competent Authority quota. The interim order came on a petition challenging her exclusion from the Telangana Scheduled Tribe reservation for NEET-UG admissions for 2026-27. A division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin noted the Community Certificates issued to her parents by the Vikarabad Tahsildar recognising them as Lambadis-28 (ST), and her residence and educational certificates showing her parentage. The court observed it would not be proper to deny her local status at this stage. KNRUHS had argued that Aarthi figured in a list of candidates who migrated from Karnataka and Maharashtra, and relied on a letter from her stating she did not wish to claim Telangana ST benefits as her caste falls under the Scheduled Caste category in Karnataka. The court posted the matter to September 30 for further hearing. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Both Telangana Today and Times of India reported the interim order neutrally, leading with the court directive and naming the student, the bench, and the university. The coverage is uniform straight reporting with no discernible slant: each source attributes the conflicting claims to the petitioner's counsel and the university's standing counsel, respectively, and includes the letter from the student disclaiming Telangana ST benefits. The balanced reading is that the court made an interim ruling based on documentary evidence while the underlying dispute over residency and caste classification remains unresolved. The key date is September 30, when the court hears the matter next. ## Coverage - telanganatoday.com (neutral report) Leads with court order, attributes both sides' arguments evenly. - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Straight news agency style reporting with no discernible slant. Tags: Chawan Aarthi, KNRUHS, NEET-UG, ST reservation, Telangana High Court, Vikarabad Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/telangana-hc-allows-vikarabad-student-to-join-mbbs-bds-counselling/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/telangana-hc-allows-vikarabad-student-to-join-mbbs-bds-counselling/#story-in-brief