New Delhi: Reverting back to the old system for the 2004-05 academic session, the Supreme Court today (Aug 9, 2004) allowed two private unaided medical colleges to admit Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and foreign students up to the extent of 15 per cent of the management quota of the seats.

This interim order was given by a Bench headed by Justice Ruma Pal on applications filed by M S Ramaiah Medical College and J N Medical College of Karnataka.

The Bench, however, referred to a larger Bench the question whether the management of private unaided professional colleges were entitled to admit NRI and foreign students within their management quota.

The applicants, through senior advocate Harish Salve, pointed out that the apex Court in Unnikrishnan's judgement had allowed this facility to the management of private unaided medical colleges.

However, this aspect was overlooked by the Supreme Court in the two subsequent judgements in T M A Pai case and Islamic Academy case.

Salve said that as this aspect was not gone into by the court, the same should be referred to the larger Bench and in the interim the colleges should be permitted to admit NRI and foreign students.