High Court Upholds Distinct Reservation Criteria for SC/ST in Civil Services

The Bombay High Court rejected a plea from Dharmendra Kumar challenging Civil Services Examination Rules. Kumar, from the OBC category, argued the rules were discriminatory. The court upheld separate criteria for SC/ST, emphasizing their distinction under the Constitution, and dismissed his petition for lacking valid challenge grounds.

The Bombay High Court has ruled that the reservation criteria for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) in the Civil Services Examination cannot be considered arbitrary. This decision denies relief to Dharmendra Kumar, a disabled civil services aspirant who contested the unlimited attempt policy for SC/ST candidates.

Kumar, who has taken the examination nine times unsuccessfully and belongs to the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, claimed that the current rules discriminated against him. However, the court reiterated the distinct constitutional recognition of SC/ST and dismissed Kumar's petition, deeming it lacks any valid grounds.

The ruling reaffirmed the unique standing of SC/ST classes in the Constitution, making clear the differences between OBC and SC/ST, particularly in reservation policies. It also clarified the position of Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) and their intersection with vertical reservation categories.

(With inputs from agencies.)