Quota can’t bar candidate from merit selection in unreserved category: SC

The judgment assumes wider significance in the evolving jurisprudence on reservations, reaffirming that principles of equality under Articles 14 and 16

The Supreme Court has ruled that the mere availability of reservation cannot operate as a bar against a reserved category candidate being considered for unreserved or open category posts, underscoring that even the most meritorious candidates from disadvantaged sections today face intense competition in an era of shrinking public employment.

By clarifying that merit cannot be subordinated to labels, the ruling reinforces the constitutional balance between affirmative action and open competition, and is likely to guide adjudication of disputes pertaining to recruitment processes across public services in the years ahead. (Representational image)

A bench of justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih made it clear that excluding reserved category candidates from the general pool solely on account of their social category, despite their