Archive · 3 Jan 2026
SC Rules Open Category Open to All
The Supreme Court of India recently made an important decision about job openings in the government.
They said that if someone from a reserved category (like SC, ST, or OBC) scores high enough to be in the general category, they should not be left out just because of their category.
This means that everyone should have a fair chance to get a job based on their marks, not just their social background.
The court also said that treating the general category as only for certain people is not fair and goes against the Constitution.
They told the government to change how they make the lists for job openings so that everyone is considered fairly.
The Supreme Court ruled that open category posts should be open to all candidates based on merit, including those from reserved categories who score above the general cut-off.
The court upheld a Rajasthan High Court ruling that treating the open category as exclusive to general category candidates is unconstitutional.
The case involved 2,756 vacancies for Junior Judicial Assistant and Clerk Grade II posts, where reserved category candidates scoring above the general cut-off were initially excluded.
The court clarified that the open category is not a quota but is available to all candidates based on merit.
The Supreme Court directed that shortlists should first be prepared based on merit for the open category, including reserved category candidates who crossed the general cut-off, and then for reserved categories from the remaining candidates.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India
- What
- Ruled that open category posts should be open to all candidates based on merit, including those from reserved categories who score above the general cut-off
- When
- Last month (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- India
- Why
- To uphold the principles of equality and merit in public employment as guaranteed by Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Case Origin
- Rajasthan High Court Staff Service Rules, 2002
- Vacancies
- 2,756
- Posts
- Junior Judicial Assistant and Clerk Grade II
- Written Exam Marks
- 300
- Typing Test Marks
- 100
- General Cut-off
- 196 marks
- Reserved Categories Cut-off
- Up to 220 marks