Rajasthan High Court Rules on SC/ST Reservation for Migrants

Significant Ruling by Rajasthan High Court

Jaipur. The Rajasthan High Court has made a crucial decision regarding whether individuals from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) can claim reservation benefits in a different state after marriage. The court clarified that having SC/ST status in one's home state does not automatically grant reservation benefits in government jobs in another state.

Case Background Involving a Gujarat Native

The case revolves around Sharmistha Ben Baria, who moved to Rajasthan after marrying. She applied for a nursing officer position under the ST category in Rajasthan. However, her claim for reservation was rejected by the Rajasthan government, which categorized her under the general category instead. Consequently, she filed a petition in the High Court challenging this decision.

Request for Reservation Based on Gujarat ST Status

Originally from Gujarat, Baria is recognized as belonging to the ST category there. After relocating to Rajasthan post-marriage, she sought to leverage her Gujarat ST certificate for reservation in the nursing officer recruitment process.

Government's Denial and Legal Proceedings

The Rajasthan government cited recruitment regulations to deny her request for ST reservation. Following this, Baria approached a single bench of the High Court, which dismissed her petition on September 23, 2025, referencing a Supreme Court ruling in the case of Ranjana Kumari vs. State of Uttarakhand. She subsequently filed a special appeal with a division bench.

High Court's Reference to Supreme Court Decisions

The division bench, comprising Justices Vineet Kumar Mathur and Chandra Shekhar Sharma, reviewed the case. During the proceedings, they referred to several Supreme Court judgments, including the case of Mari Chandra Shekhar Rao vs. Dean, Seth GS Medical College, and the Action Committee on the Issue of Caste Certificates.

Clarification on Reservation Rights

The court emphasized that the benefits of SC and ST reservations are determined by the respective state's lists and constitutional provisions. Just because a community is recognized as SC or ST in one state does not guarantee similar status in another state.

Implications for Women Moving States After Marriage

This ruling clarifies the legal standing for women and families who relocate to different states due to marriage or other reasons. It establishes that SC/ST status from the original state does not automatically apply to the reservation lists of other states. However, this does not negate the individual's tribal identity or rights acquired in their home state.

Rejection of Special Appeal and General Category Status

The Rajasthan High Court's division bench ultimately dismissed Baria's special appeal, reaffirming that her claim for ST reservation in the nursing officer recruitment was not valid. This ruling is significant for candidates preparing for government jobs in other states, highlighting that merely possessing a caste or tribe certificate from one state does not confer reservation benefits in another.