Summary
The Supreme Court upheld adjustment of previously selected reserved category candidates against open category posts on merit when Uttar Pradesh redrew its police constable selection list. The additional 3,295 posts belonged to the same recruitment begun in 2013, and the State had to apply merit and reservation together. The petitioners did not allege selection of anyone with lower marks; two who matched the last selected candidate’s marks had lost under the tie breaker. Their challenge to the revised list was dismissed.
Issues
- Whether candidates previously selected against reserved posts could be adjusted against open category posts on merit when additional vacancies in the same recruitment were filled.
Held
- The additional posts formed part of the same 2013 recruitment. In carrying out the Court’s earlier directions, the State was obliged to follow merit and reservation, and could adjust meritorious reserved category candidates against open posts. (¶ 6-8)
- No selection of a candidate with marks below the petitioners was alleged. All but two petitioners scored below the last selected general male candidate, while those two were eliminated by the tie breaker. No illegality in the challenged adjustment was established. (¶¶ 4, 7-9)
Result
Writ petition dismissed.