Supreme Court Rules Unreserved Seats Open to All Candidates on Merit

In an important ruling strengthening the principle of equality of opportunity, the Supreme Court of India has clarified that unreserved or general category seats in public employment are open to all candidates, irrespective of their social category, provided they qualify on pure merit. The verdict settles a long-standing debate in recruitment practices across India.

Why in News?

On January 17, 2026, the Supreme Court of India ruled that unreserved seats are not reserved for the general category alone. Candidates from SC, ST, or OBC categories who qualify without availing any relaxation must be counted against unreserved seats, not reserved quotas.

Unreserved Category: A Merit-Based Pool

• The Bench comprising M. M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma clearly held that the unreserved category is an open competition pool.
• It is not a separate quota for the general category, but a space where any citizen who meets the prescribed standards of merit can be selected.
• Excluding meritorious reserved category candidates from these seats, the court said, would violate the constitutional guarantee of equality.

Merit-Induced Shift Explained

• Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, who authored the judgment, elaborated on the doctrine of “merit-induced shift”.
• According to this principle, if a reserved category candidate qualifies for selection without using relaxations such as lower cut-off marks, age relaxation, or fee concessions, they must be treated as an open category candidate.
• This approach ensures that reserved seats are preserved for candidates who actually need reservation benefits, while merit is not compromised in public recruitment.

Case Background and Overturned High Court Verdict

• The ruling originated from a dispute related to a 2013 recruitment drive conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for Junior Assistant (Fire Service) posts.
• AAI had filled unreserved vacancies with higher-scoring reserved category candidates, which was challenged by a general category candidate.
• In 2020, the Kerala High Court ruled against AAI. The Supreme Court has now set aside that decision, calling it inconsistent with constitutional principles.

Constitutional Basis of the Judgment

• The Court reaffirmed that the ruling flows directly from Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before law and equal opportunity in public employment.
• Reservation, the Court clarified, is a tool for inclusion, not a mechanism to exclude meritorious candidates from fair competition.

Implications for Public Recruitment in India

• This judgment provides long-awaited clarity for recruitment agencies and examination bodies at both central and state levels.
• It is expected to standardize selection practices, reduce litigation, and ensure a balanced approach between social justice and meritocracy in government jobs.

Key Summary at a Glance

Question

Q. The Supreme Court recently clarified that unreserved seats in public recruitment are:

A. Reserved only for general category candidates
B. Filled by lottery
C. Open to all candidates purely on merit
D. Allocated after reserved seats are filled