Supreme Court Upholds Reservation for Women in Government Services Under Horizontal Reservation Rules. The Court held that horizontal reservation for women under the Punjab Civil Services (Reservation of Posts for Women) Rules, 2020 is compartmentalized within vertical categories and subsequent roster amendments cannot be applied retrospectively to invalidate an advertisement issued in compliance with the rules.

Case Note & Summary

The Supreme Court considered an appeal challenging a Division Bench order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that remanded a reservation dispute for fresh adjudication. The case involved recruitment to 77 posts in Punjab State Civil Services, specifically the reservation of a Deputy Superintendent of Police post for 'SC Sports (Women)' under the Punjab Civil Services (Reservation of Posts for Women) Rules, 2020. The factual background revealed that advertisement no.08 was issued on 04.06.2020, followed by the 2020 Rules on 21.10.2020 mandating 33% horizontal reservation for women. Advertisement no.08 was withdrawn, and advertisement no.14 was issued on 11.12.2020, reserving one DSP post for 'SC Sports (Women)'. The private respondent, who had applied under advertisement no.08, challenged this reservation, claiming it violated the roster issued on 29.01.2021. The Single Judge dismissed the private respondent's writ petition, noting the roster came after the application deadline and the advertisement was valid. The Division Bench remanded the matter due to contradictory stands between the Home Department and Department of Social Justice, supported by the Chief Secretary's view that the reservation was erroneous. The legal issues centered on the validity of the reservation for women, the applicability of roster points retrospectively, and the propriety of the remand. The appellant argued that horizontal reservation has no roster system and the Single Judge's order was well-reasoned, while the private respondent contended the advertisement violated the 2020 Rules and roster points applied from the amendment date. The State supported the Chief Secretary's stand. The Court analyzed that horizontal reservation for women is compartmentalized within vertical categories and lacks a roster system, which applies only to vertical reservation. It held that advertisement no.14 was issued in compliance with the 2020 Rules before the roster amendment, and subsequent roster points could not be applied retrospectively. The Court found the Single Judge had already considered the contradictory departmental stands and issued a reasoned order, making the Division Bench's remand unnecessary. The decision allowed the appeal, set aside the Division Bench's order, and restored the Single Judge's order, upholding the reservation for 'SC Sports (Women)' and dismissing the private respondent's claims.

Headnote

Final Decision

Appeal allowed, Division Bench order set aside, Single Judge order restored