A recent decision of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT) has reiterated an important principle regarding candidates who initially apply under a reserved category but are ultimately selected under General Merit (GM).
In A.No.1904/2026 – Smt. Ankitha Manya Shivam v. State of Karnataka & Others, the applicant had applied under the 2A category for the post of Drug Inspector. However, based on her marks, she was selected under General Merit.
Although she was selected under GM, the appointing authority withheld her appointment and insisted upon production of a Caste Validity Certificate. She approached the Tribunal.
The KSAT held that when a candidate is selected under General Merit on the basis of merit, and is not claiming any benefit of reservation, insisting upon caste validation serves no purpose. The Tribunal directed the authorities to issue her appointment under General Merit without insisting on the Caste Validity Certificate.
The same issue again came before the Tribunal in A.No.2569/2026 – Smt. N. Pruthvi v. State of Karnataka & Another, decided on 25.09.2026.
In this case also, the candidate had applied under 2A, but was selected under General Merit by securing marks higher than the GM cut-off. The appointment was withheld for want of a Caste Validity Certificate.
Following its earlier decisions, including Girish G., Anil Shivananda Karajagi, and other precedents, the Tribunal again directed the authorities to issue appointment under General Merit without insisting upon the Caste Validity Certificate.
If a candidate applies under a reserved category but is ultimately selected under General Merit on the basis of merit, and does not claim reservation benefits, the KSAT has held that caste validity need not be insisted upon for such General Merit appointment.
The candidates in these cases were also treated as General Merit candidates throughout their service and were not entitled to reservation benefits in that appointment.
These decisions are particularly relevant to candidates whose appointment or posting is withheld merely because they originally applied under a reserved category, despite being selected under General Merit.
