Introduction:

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court addressed the issue of reservation benefits in state service examinations, particularly focusing on the treatment of meritorious candidates from reserved categories who do not avail reservation benefits. The case, titled Deependra Yadav and others Versus State of Madhya Pradesh and others, stemmed from an amendment to the Madhya Pradesh State Service Examination Rules, 2015, concerning the adjustment and segregation of meritorious candidates. The petitioners, represented by a team of legal counsels, challenged the amendment, while the respondents defended the state’s decision.

Arguments:

The petitioners argued against the amendment, contending that it harmed the interests of meritorious candidates from reserved categories who did not avail reservation benefits. They emphasized the impact on the allocation of reserved category slots, hindering the opportunities of deserving candidates lower down in the merit list. On the other hand, the respondents supported the state’s decision, citing the need to restore the original rule to ensure fairness and uphold reservation principles.

Court’s Judgement:

The Supreme Court, in its ruling authored by Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sanjay Kumar, upheld the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and affirmed the validity of the state’s restoration of the original rule. The court emphasized the importance of treating meritorious candidates from reserved categories who do not avail reservation benefits at par with unreserved category candidates based on their marks. It highlighted the potential harm to the interests of deserving reserved category candidates and endorsed the principle that candidates from vertical reservation categories should be entitled to selection in the open category based on merit.