In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has clarified that candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) who avail relaxations in age or physical standards cannot be shifted to unreserved category seats in Railway Protection Force (RPF) recruitment, even if they score higher marks than the last selected general candidate.
Background
The case traces back to an employment notice issued in December 2013 for 763 posts in ancillary services of RPF, including constables in trades like water carrier, tailor, cobbler, and others RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE & ORS. While the recruitment allowed relaxations in age and physical measurements for reserved categories, disputes arose when some candidates who availed such relaxations but secured high marks demanded appointment in the unreserved category.
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The Gauhati High Court had earlier directed the RPF to appoint such candidates against vacant unreserved posts, relying on an older standing order that allowed migration if reserved candidates scored higher than the general cut-off.
Court’s Observations
The apex court, led by Justice Joymalya Bagchi, took a closer look at two conflicting standing orders- Standing Order No. 78 (2008), which permitted such migration, and Standing Order No. 85 (2009), which barred candidates availing relaxations from being considered under unreserved seats.
The bench noted: “A partial modification of the Standing Order No. 78 by Standing Order No. 85 would naturally have an overriding effect… putting an embargo on migration of reserved candidates who have availed relaxation of age and/or physical measurements to fill up unreserved vacancies.”
The court also pointed out that some petitioners had not even cleared the required trade test or the unreserved cut-off. Thus, the High Court had failed to consider these factual details and relied mechanically on earlier precedents.
Decision
Setting aside the High Court’s order, the Supreme Court ruled that reserved candidates who benefited from relaxations cannot be considered in the unreserved category, even if their marks are higher. With this, the RPF’s appeal was allowed, and the directions of the High Court were struck down.
Case: Railway Protection Force & Ors. v. Prem Chand Kumar & Ors.
Date of Judgment: 9 September 2025
