Allahabad High Court Seeks Detailed Report on Reservation Exceeding 50% in UP APO Recruitment.
📍 Prayagraj | October 31, 2025
In a significant development, the Allahabad High Court has sought a comprehensive explanation from the Uttar Pradesh Government and the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) regarding the alleged breach of the 50% reservation ceiling in the recruitment process for Assistant Prosecution Officers (APO).
The order was issued by Hon’ble Justice Vikas Budhwar while hearing a writ petition filed by Abhishek Rai, Aditya Rai, Harsh Mishra, Somya Shreni, Sumit Shukla, and Alok Pandey. The matter has been listed for the next hearing on November 12, 2025.
Details of the Petition
The petition challenges the UPPSC recruitment advertisement dated September 16, 2025, which, according to the petitioners, reflects that the total reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) collectively crosses the constitutionally prescribed limit of 50%.
The petitioners contended that such an action violates the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) judgment, widely known as the Mandal Commission Case, which set the upper limit of reservation at 50%.
They further argued that exceeding this limit undermines the constitutional guarantee of equality of opportunity enshrined under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
Court’s Direction
After hearing the arguments, the Court directed the State Government and the UPPSC to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the basis, rationale, and calculation method that led to the reservation ratio exceeding the prescribed limit.
The Court emphasized that all recruitment exercises must adhere to constitutional and legal norms, ensuring that merit and social justice are both given due consideration.
Petitioners’ Stand
The petitioners clarified that their plea is not against the reservation policy itself, but rather aims to ensure that the implementation remains within the boundaries of the Constitution. They stated that adherence to the 50% limit is essential to maintain a balanced and lawful recruitment framework.
Implications
The High Court’s intervention is expected to have broader implications for public recruitment processes in Uttar Pradesh and could prompt a review of existing reservation structures in competitive examinations conducted by the UPPSC and other state authorities.
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