OBC applicant outscored general recruit but barred from selection over reservation rules

Jayant Debnath, an over-age candidate from Tripura, used the age-relaxation concession available to OBCs to enter the 2018 recruitment process for constables in various central forces. He achieved a score of 55.1, higher than the 46.26. Despite his higher marks, Jayant was excluded because the OBC cut-off was set at 60 and the recruitment rules state that once a candidate avails reserved-category benefits, they cannot migrate to an unreserved slot.

The Tripura High Court, both single-judge and division benches, ruled that Jayant should be considered for selection. The Centre, represented by additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, contested this, emphasizing that the rules expressly bar such migration and warning of broader implications for public recruitment. The matter has been taken up by a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, which will assess the correctness of the High Court’s judgment.