In a significant ruling, the Calcutta High Court has clarified that candidates from reserved categories who qualify for an upgrade to the general category based on merit will not lose the benefits of their original category. The judgment, delivered by Justice Amrita Sinha on Tuesday, addresses a crucial aspect of reservation policy in government job examinations.
Court's Directive on Category Status
The court's directive came in response to a petition filed by a candidate who had appeared for the 2025 State Level Selection Test (SLST) conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). The petitioner had successfully made it to the first selection list but sought the court's intervention to restore her Scheduled Caste (SC) status, even though her high marks had technically placed her in the general category bracket.
Justice Sinha emphasized a critical procedural point. She noted that the candidate had clearly marked herself as belonging to the reserved category during the application process. Furthermore, the petitioner had paid the application fee of Rs 200, which is specifically designated for candidates from reserved categories, not the higher general category fee.
Legal Arguments and Community Welfare
During the proceedings, senior counsel for the SSC, Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, presented a counter-argument. He requested the court's permission to upgrade the candidate to the general category. His contention was rooted in the principle of community welfare over individual gain.
Bandyopadhyay argued that if a high-scoring reserved category candidate opts to retain their reserved status after crossing the general cut-off, it could deprive another deserving candidate from the same reserved community of an opportunity. He stated that the core idea of reservation is for the welfare of the entire community, not for individual candidates.
Finality of Category and Judicial Precedent
Justice Amrita Sinha, however, upheld the principle of finality in the candidate's declared category. The judge referred to her own previous order from November 27, which established that once a candidate's category is finalized during the application process, the examination authorities cannot unilaterally change it.
The court held that authorities are not permitted to "change it suo motu"—a legal term meaning on their own motion or initiative. This reinforces the applicant's right to the category they originally applied under, regardless of their subsequent performance in the examination.
This ruling sets a clear precedent for future recruitment drives. It ensures that reserved category candidates who perform exceptionally well are not penalized by being stripped of their category benefits, while also respecting the choices they make at the time of application. The decision underscores the legal sanctity of the application declaration and the fees paid, which are considered a binding contract between the candidate and the recruiting body.
