Mayur Dasharath Auti v. Union Public Service Commission
Case brief
What is this about?
The Supreme Court held that OBC status is acquired at birth and an OBC-NCL certificate serves only as ministerial proof of this existing fact. The arbitrary cut-off period stipulating a specific issuance date, which falls in the middle of a financial year, lacks a rational nexus with the object of reservation. The Court ruled that requiring issuance post-marketing of rules is impracticable and oppressive. Petitioners are directed to relax the cut-off date rule; certificates issued within the relevant financial year shall be valid, and authorities must verify status provisionally if needed.
What did the court decide?
Rule 21.2 of Examination Rules assailed is allowed. OBC-NCL certificates issued within the relevant financial year are valid irrespective of the cut-off date. Respondents directed to verify status from District Magistrate or make provisional appointments; cut-off date shall not be a factor for disqualification.