Age, fee relaxation for SC, ST, OBCs in gen category too

January 14, 2010: The Times of India

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has held that reserved candidates like SC, STs, OBCs can be provided age relaxation and fee concession for selection in government jobs under general category even after the reserved quota has been filled. 

However, such relaxation can be extended provided the reserved candidates secured competing or more marks with the general candidates in preliminary or qualifying exams for final selection. 

“Reservations are a mode to achieve the equality of opportunity guaranteed under Article 16 (1) of the Constitution of India. Concessions and relaxations in fee or age provided to the reserved category candidates to enable them to compete and seek benefit of reservation is merely an aid to reservation,¶ a bench of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Surinder Singh Nijjar said in a judgment.