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Rajasthan Public Service Commission, Ajmer v. Yati Jain & Ors.

with connected appeals · 2026 INSC 64Decided 15 Jan 2026
with connected appeals
Justice Dipankar Datta · Justice Augustine George Masih

Background

Three candidates on reserve lists sought appointment when vacancies arose after selected candidates resigned; the High Court ordered RPSC to appoint them from the lists.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court held reserve lists have only a limited statutory life (six months from the main list's forwarding), a candidate has no automatic right to appointment beyond that window, and there's no "negative equality": one earlier unlawful appointment from an expired list can't justify repeating the mistake.

Lesson Learnt

Being on a government reserve list doesn't guarantee appointment beyond the strict time window fixed by the recruitment rules; once that lapses, no later vacancy revives the claim.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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