In Brief
The Supreme Court held that physically handicapped candidates of General Category and OBC Category in Civil Services Examination are entitled to equal attempts (7 each) without discrimination. The respondents—disabled OBC candidates—claimed they should receive 10 attempts to match the proportional increase granted to disabled General Category candidates (raised from 4 to 7 in 2007). The Court found that disability is a horizontal reservation cutting across vertical categories. Since all physically handicapped persons suffer similar disabilities, equal treatment regardless of vertical category (General/OBC/SC/ST) does not constitute discrimination. Additionally, disabled OBC candidates enjoy cumulative age relaxation (13 years) compared to disabled General Category candidates (10 years). The Court set aside the High Court judgments allowing the writ petitions and held that reservation policy matters are within governmental discretion, not subject to judicial rewriting unless wholly arbitrary.
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