In Brief
The Karnataka Determination of Seniority of Government Servants Promoted on Reservation Act, 2002, granted consequential seniority to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe employees promoted under reservation. The Supreme Court held that Article 16(4-A) of the Constitution does not automatically confer consequential seniority to roster-point promotees. The State must first demonstrate compelling reasons: backwardness, inadequacy of representation, and overall administrative efficiency, as established in M. Nagaraj. Finding no such exercise was undertaken by Karnataka, the Court declared Sections 3 and 4 of the Act ultra vires Articles 14 and 16. The decision balanced social justice with administrative efficiency while protecting retiring employees.
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