SC: Reserved Candidates Eligible for Unreserved Seats
- 17 Jan 2026
On 16th January 2026, the Supreme Court of India held that candidates belonging to reserved categories can be appointed against unreserved seats if they qualify purely on merit, without availing any reservation-related concessions.
Key Points:
- Core Ruling: The Supreme Court clarified that the unreserved category is not a quota reserved exclusively for the general category, but an “open” merit-based pool accessible to all citizens.
- Eligibility on Equal Standards: Reserved category candidates (SC, ST, OBC) who qualify using the same standards as general candidates, without age relaxation, fee concessions, or other benefits, must be treated as unreserved candidates.
- Constitutional Basis: The verdict is rooted in Article 14 (Equality before Law) and Article 16 (Equality of Opportunity in Public Employment), mandating what the court termed a “Merit-Induced Shift.”
- Case Background: The ruling arose from a 2013 recruitment drive by the Airports Authority of India for Junior Assistant (Fire Service) posts, where meritorious reserved-category candidates were appointed against unreserved seats.
- Overruling High Court Judgment: The Supreme Court set aside a 2020 Kerala High Court judgment that had favoured a general-category waiting-list candidate, calling it contrary to equality principles.
- Impact on Reservation System: The ruling ensures that reserved quota seats remain available for the next most meritorious candidates within those categories, balancing meritocracy with social justice.
- Administrative Significance: The decision provides clarity to recruitment agencies nationwide, resolving conflicting interpretations by different high courts.
- Broader Implication: The court emphasized that reservation is a tool for inclusion, not exclusion, and should not prevent high-performing candidates from competing for open positions.
