Abhishek Choudhary
18 September 2025 – The Supreme Court upheld the 25% domicile quota at National Law University, Jodhpur, bringing an end to the ongoing challenge. The quota, introduced in 2022, sets aside seats for students from Rajasthan and had drawn criticism from across states. A law aspirant from West Bengal argued that the policy went beyond the founding law of the university and undermined the national character of CLAT. The apex court, however, agreed with the Rajasthan High Court’s earlier view and allowed the reservation to continue.
The dispute began in 2022 when NLU Jodhpur introduced a new rule based on a state notification and a resolution passed by its Executive Council. The rule created a separate category for Rajasthan domiciles. This prompted an aspiring student, Anindita Biswas, to approach the courts. She claimed the university’s founding Act allowed reservation only for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, not for domicile, and that the classification lacked any rational basis. She also contended that such a policy diluted the all-India nature of admissions under CLAT.
The Rajasthan High Court did not accept these claims. It held that the State, as the sponsoring authority of the university, could decide on such a policy. The judges found that domicile was a reasonable basis for classification and that the move had a clear purpose ensuring local students gained better access to the institution their State supported.
When the matter reached the Supreme Court, Justices P. S. Narasimha and A. S. Chandurkar found no constitutional fault with the High Court’s order. They ruled that the policy was neither arbitrary nor discriminatory. According to the bench, the quota satisfied the equality test laid down under Article 14 of the Indian constitution and did not breach Article 15. The Court therefore refused to interfere and dismissed the appeal.
This ruling has wider implications. Many National Law Universities already have state quotas, and the judgment will likely be relied upon to justify them. For students outside Rajasthan, competition for the remaining seats at NLU Jodhpur will intensify, while aspirants from within the State gain a significant edge.
The decision also underlines the Court’s consistent approach: education policy choices made by States will not be struck down unless they are plainly unconstitutional. It is a reminder that national institutions, while open to all, may still carry obligations to their home States.
Case Name: Anindita Biswas v. National Law University, Jodhpur & Ors.
Case Number (Supreme Court): Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 25297 of 2025
Supreme Court Bench (Judges): Justice P. S. Narasimha and Justice A. S. Chandurkar
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