Petition challenging reservation benefits post-selection dismissed; court emphasizes timely claim of reservation during selection process
In a significant ruling, the Uttarakhand High Court has upheld the provision of horizontal reservation for Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari and their dependants in state services, as per the Uttarakhand Reservation Act, 2023. The judgment was delivered by Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari on February 25, 2026, in the case of Poonam Shahi Rajput v. State of Uttarakhand and others.
The petitioner, Poonam Shahi Rajput, had approached the court challenging the selection and appointment of respondent no. 4 to the post of Assistant Teacher in District Champawat, despite the respondent scoring fewer marks than her. The crux of her argument was that the respondent benefited from a 10% horizontal reservation, which she did not claim during the selection process.
The court, while dismissing the writ petition, emphasized the mandatory nature of claiming reservation benefits during the selection process itself. Justice Tiwari highlighted that the reservation for Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari was clearly mentioned in the recruitment advertisement dated November 7, 2025, which explicitly stated the application of horizontal reservations as per government orders. The petitioner, despite belonging to the Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari category, failed to claim this benefit during the application process, nullifying her post-selection grievance.
The court further clarified that merit comparison between reserved and unreserved category candidates is not permissible if the reserved category benefits were not claimed by the latter during selection. The judgment reinforces the principle that candidates must adhere to procedural requirements when seeking reservation benefits.
The case underscores the importance of candidates being aware of and claiming applicable reservation benefits during the recruitment process, as post-selection claims are not entertained. This ruling serves as a reminder for candidates to meticulously follow procedural guidelines to avail of the benefits entitled to them under reservation laws.
Bottom Line:
Horizontal reservation for Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari or their dependants in State Services upheld under Uttarakhand Reservation Act, 2023. Candidate cannot claim reservation benefits post-selection if such benefit was not claimed during the selection process.
Statutory provision(s): Section 4 of "The Uttarakhand Reservation in Government Service For The Identified Andolankari of Uttarakhand State Movement Or Their Dependants Act, 2023"
Poonam Shahi Rajput v. State of Uttarakhand, (Uttarakhand) : Law Finder Doc id # 2859683
