Bombay High Court Quashes 3% Reservation for Children of Government and Private Employees

In a landmark judgment, the Bombay High Court has quashed a 3% reservation for the children of government and private employees, ruling it unconstitutional and a violation of the principle of merit-based admissions for medical aspirants.

In a major development set to impact the medical admission landscape, the Bombay High Court at Goa has delivered a landmark verdict, quashing a 3% reservation of seats for the children of Central and State Government employees and those in private occupations. The decision, which came on a petition filed by a medical aspirant, has set a strong precedent by reaffirming the principle of merit-based admissions and challenging reservations not backed by constitutional provisions or legislative action. The now-nullified provision, previously designated as Clause 5.7 of the prospectus issued by the Director of Technical Education, Goa, was designed to benefit a category of applicants who did not meet the standard residency requirements but whose parents were working in the state.

The court's division bench, in its ruling, found the "CSP" (Children of Central/State Government and Persons in Private Occupations) category to be in direct violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law. The court held that the classification of this category lacked an "intelligible differentia" and had no rational relationship with the objective of providing a quality medical education based on merit. The judgment highlighted that while the Constitution provides for reservations for socially and educationally backward classes, this particular provision was an "executive fiat" and lacked the necessary legislative backing to create a separate class for reservation. The court's decision underscores a clear distinction between providing relaxations in eligibility criteria to accommodate employees due to service-related mobility and creating a separate reservation. While the court acknowledged the state’s intent to prevent deserving candidates from being excluded, it deemed the 3% reservation as "totally unacceptable," arguing that it arbitrarily compromised merit. This verdict emphasizes that merit should be the sole criterion for selection into professional medical courses.

For students and aspirants, the immediate impact of this ruling is significant, as it will likely lead to a reshuffling of the merit list and a redistribution of the seats that were previously reserved. The decision upholds the integrity of the medical admission process and ensures a level playing field for all aspirants who qualify based on their NEET UG 2025 scores. As counselling for various state and national seats progresses, such legal rulings play a vital role in shaping the final admission process. For all the latest news and updates on legal developments and their impact on medical education, follow Only Education News (https://www.onlyeducation.in/exams-list/medical).