Archive · 17 Jan 2026
Top Court Rules Reserved Candidates Can Fill Open Seats
The Supreme Court of India recently made an important decision about job appointments.
They said that if someone from a reserved category (like SC, ST, or OBC) gets higher marks than the general category cutoff, they should be given a job from the open seats.
This means they won't take a seat meant for their reserved category.
The court explained that the 'unreserved' category is not just for general candidates but is open to everyone based on merit.
This rule helps keep the reserved seats available for the most deserving candidates within their own categories.
The case started in 2013 when the Airports Authority of India was hiring for junior assistant jobs.
A general category candidate named Sham Krishna B challenged the process, but the Supreme Court disagreed with him and overturned an earlier decision by the Kerala High Court.
The Supreme Court ruled that reserved category candidates who score higher than the general category cutoff should be adjusted against unreserved seats.
This principle, known as 'Merit Induced Shift', is based on Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, ensuring equality before law and equal opportunity in public employment.
The court overturned a 2020 Kerala High Court judgment that had directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to appoint an unreserved candidate by excluding meritorious reserved category candidates.
The dispute originated from a 2013 AAI recruitment drive for 245 junior assistant positions, where 122 unreserved seats were filled by both general and meritorious reserved category candidates.
Sham Krishna B, an unreserved candidate, challenged the process, arguing that reserved category candidates should be restricted to their respective quotas, but the Supreme Court upheld the AAI's selection process.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Sham Krishna B
- What
- Supreme Court ruling on the adjustment of meritorious reserved category candidates against unreserved seats
- When
- The ruling was made on Friday (specific date not mentioned), overturning a 2020 Kerala High Court judgment
- Where
- India, with the case originating from a recruitment drive by the AAI
- Why
- To ensure equality before law and equality of opportunity in public employment, as per Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma
- Legal Principle
- Merit Induced Shift
- Articles Cited
- Article 14 and Article 16 of the Indian Constitution
- Case Origin
- 2013 recruitment drive by the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
- Positions
- 245 posts of Junior Assistant (Fire Service)
- Previous Ruling
- Kerala High Court's 2020 judgment in favor of Sham Krishna B
