Landmark Supreme Court case · 1992
Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
Why this case matters
Reservations and the 50 percent ceiling under equality.
Connected constitutional articles
Article 14 — Equality before law
The State must treat people equally before the law. It can classify groups for a genuine public reason, but it cannot be arbitrary or personal in who gets the benefit of the law.
Article 16 — Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
Public jobs must be open equally to citizens. Reservations for backward classes, SCs, STs, and economically weaker sections are the main constitutional exceptions.