The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that a candidate cannot be denied the benefit of reservation under the Outstanding Sportsperson category merely because she represented another state in a recognized sports tournament. Setting aside an order passed by education authorities, the court directed the State to consider the petitioner for appointment as a Teacher Grade-III Level-II (Science-Maths) and issue an appointment order if she is otherwise eligible.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by Mamta Kumari, a resident of Jhunjhunu district, who had participated in an Inter-University Cricket Championship and sought appointment under the Outstanding Sportsperson category in the Teacher Grade-III recruitment process.
According to the petitioner, she was initially selected under the sports quota. However, authorities later refused to grant her appointment after questioning her eligibility on the ground that she had represented Haryana during the tournament rather than Rajasthan.
Following earlier litigation, the High Court had directed the authorities to reconsider her claim. However, her representation was rejected by the Director, Elementary Education, Rajasthan, through an order dated December 9, 2025, prompting the present writ petition.
Justice Anand Sharma examined the recruitment advertisement governing reservation for Outstanding Sportspersons and found that the eligibility condition only required participation in an All India Inter-University Tournament recognized by the Association of Indian Universities.
The Court noted that the advertisement did not require a candidate to have represented Rajasthan in such competitions.
“The clause nowhere stipulates that such participation must necessarily be while representing State of Rajasthan alone,” the bench observed. It added that eligibility was linked to participation in a recognized tournament and not to the particular state represented by the candidate.
The Court also relied on an earlier decision in Imran Khan v. State of Rajasthan, where it had been held that a Rajasthan resident who excelled in sports could not be excluded from the benefit merely because he represented another state.
Referring to the State Government’s circular dated January 8, 2020, which was used to reject the petitioner’s claim, the Court reiterated that an executive circular could not override statutory rules or notifications.
“The State is bound to follow the issue decided in the said judgment in its letter and spirit,” the Court said while criticizing the authorities for relying on a position that had already been rejected in previous judgments.
Allowing the writ petition, the Rajasthan High Court quashed the order dated December 9, 2025, passed by the Director, Elementary Education.
The Court held that Mamta Kumari was eligible to be considered under the Outstanding Sportsperson category. It directed the respondents to issue an appointment order for the post of Teacher Grade-III Level-II (Science-Maths), subject to her fulfilling other eligibility requirements, within 60 days from receipt of the certified copy of the judgment.
Case Details:
Case Title: Mamta Kumari v. State of Rajasthan & Ors.
Case Number: S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 950/2026
Judge: Justice Anand Sharma
Decision Date: 21 May 2026
