In Brief
This appeal challenges Maharashtra's amendment to forest service recruitment rules requiring Forest Guards to hold a degree to participate in a limited competitive examination (LDCE) for promotion to Forester. The Court held that while educational qualifications can be a permissible basis for classification in promotions, requiring a degree without reserving a specific quota violates constitutional equality guarantees. Since Forest Guards form a unified class for the LDCE and compete on merit, introducing a sub-classification between graduates and non-graduates is unreasonable and discriminatory. The Court struck down the degree requirement as unconstitutional and directed that future LDCEs be held afresh with all eligible Forest Guards permitted to participate.
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