Unreserved Seats Open to All on Merit, Supreme Court Clarifies Reservation Law

Supreme Court Clarifies Unreserved Seats Are Open to All on Merit, Regardless of Category

In a landmark judgment reaffirming the constitutional principles of equality and merit, the Supreme Court of India has clarified that unreserved (general) category seats in public recruitment are open to all candidates purely on merit , irrespective of their social category. The Court held that candidates belonging to reserved categories who qualify on general standards must be counted against unreserved seats.

The ruling provides authoritative clarity on a long-standing debate surrounding the application of reservation in public employment.

Unreserved Category Is a Merit-Based Pool

A Bench comprising M. M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma emphasised that the unreserved category is not a quota earmarked exclusively for the general population . Instead, it is an open pool accessible to every citizen who meets the prescribed merit criteria.

The Court observed that denying meritorious reserved category candidates access to unreserved seats would amount to discrimination and violate the equality mandate of the Constitution.

Explained: The Concept of ‘Merit-Induced Shift’

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, who authored the judgment, elaborated on the doctrine of “merit-induced shift.” According to the Court, if a Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Other Backward Class (OBC) candidate qualifies without availing any relaxation or concession —such as age relaxation, fee exemption, or lowered cut-off—they must be treated as an open category candidate .

Such candidates are to be adjusted against unreserved seats, ensuring that reserved seats remain available for other eligible candidates within those categories who require affirmative action benefits.

Case Background and High Court Ruling Set Aside

The judgment arose from a dispute linked to a 2013 recruitment drive conducted by the Airports Authority of India for Junior Assistant (Fire Service) posts. In that recruitment, unreserved vacancies were filled by higher-scoring candidates from reserved categories.

This decision was challenged by a general category candidate, and in 2020 , the Kerala High Court ruled in favour of the challenger. The Supreme Court has now overturned that verdict, holding it to be inconsistent with the constitutional scheme of equality under public employment.

Implications for Public Recruitment Across India

The ruling brings much-needed clarity for recruitment agencies and examination bodies, especially in light of varying interpretations by different courts. By reaffirming that reservation is a tool for inclusion and not a constraint on merit , the judgment is expected to guide future central and state-level recruitment processes.

The verdict reinforces the balance between social justice and meritocracy , ensuring that constitutional guarantees under public employment are applied uniformly and fairly nationwide.

Exam-Focused Points

• Unreserved seats are an open, merit-based category for all candidates.

• Reserved category candidates qualifying without concessions must be counted as open candidates.

• Doctrine of merit-induced shift flows from Articles 14