When Will Reserved Category Candidates Get ‘General’ Seats? Supreme Court’s Two Verdicts Clear the Path

New Delhi, January 7, 2026: The Supreme Court has recently delivered two landmark judgments on reservations, both of which have significant implications for government jobs and admissions in public educational institutions. While one ruling comes as a setback for some, the other provides substantial relief to candidates from reserved categories.

The court clarified that if a candidate from a reserved category performs better than general category candidates in a competitive exam without availing any reservation benefits, they will be considered under the general category for recruitment or admission purposes.

Case from Karnataka: Reserved Candidate Denied General Seat
On January 6, 2026, a bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi rejected the claim of a Scheduled Caste (SC) candidate seeking a general category seat in the Indian Forest Service (IFS). The candidate had availed the reservation benefit during the Preliminary Test (PT) stage. The court held that candidates who use reservation benefits at any stage of the exam cannot later claim a general category seat, even if their final rank is higher.

Case from Rajasthan: Meritorious Reserved Candidate Can Be Counted in General Category
In a separate case related to Rajasthan, a bench of Justices Deepankar Dutta and A.G. Masih ruled that a reserved category candidate who scores above the cut-off set for the general category without using reservation benefits is eligible to be listed under the general category in the merit list. The court further clarified that if a reserved candidate clears the written exam above the general category cut-off, they will appear for the interview as a general candidate. However, if the final merit list does not place them in the general category, they remain entitled to the benefits of the reserved category.

These rulings provide clarity on how merit and reservation interact, ensuring that highly capable candidates from reserved categories are recognized fairly while maintaining the integrity of reservation provisions.