After SC/ST Quotas, Supreme Court Introduces OBC Reservations In Staff Appointments For First Time

The Supreme Court has also introduced reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in staff recruitments for the first time. This follows the recent decision to introduce quotas for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in staff recruitments.

Reservations for physically challenged, Ex-servicemen and dependents of Freedom Fighters have also been provided.

This has been done through an amendment to the Supreme Court Officers and Servants (Conditions of Service and Conduct) Rules, 1961. By a notification dated July 3, Rule 4A has been substituted by the Chief Justice of India in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 146 of the Constitution.

The new Rule 4 A reads as follows :

"Reservation in direct recruitment to various categories of posts specified in the Schedule, for the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Physically Challenged, Ex-servicemen and dependant of Freedom Fighters shall be in accordance with the Rules, orders, and Notifications issued from time to time by the Government of India in respect of posts carrying the pay scale corresponding to the pay scale prescribed for the post specified in the Schedule, subject to such modification, variation or exception as the Chief Justice may, from time to time, specify.”