In Brief
A Scheduled Tribe employee of the Income Tax Department secured 43% marks in "Other Taxes" (the minimum for SC/ST being 40%) and passed the departmental exam for promotion under his category. He sought grace marks to reach the 45% general category threshold for promotion to general vacancies. The High Court allowed this, citing Rajesh Kumar Daria. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that grace marks under CBDT policy exist solely to help marginally failing candidates pass—not to help those already qualified switch categories. Once a candidate passes in his own category, no further grace marks apply. The appeal was allowed and the High Court's order was set aside.
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