Supreme Court yesterday delivered two important judgments. In Union of India vs. Ramesh Ram, the Bench referred the matter to the Constitution Bench. In this case, the question was whether the candidates of the reserved category could opt to be selected under the general category on the basis of their merit, but also opt to be allotted a service under the reserved quota. In other words, whether the candidates belonging to these reserved categories, can have the cake and eat it too. There were certain questions to be considered whether such a course would affect the chances of general candidates not entitled to any reservation, and whether those selected under the reserved quota would lose the right to be considered for the services of their choice. The question whether the reservation benefit can be extended beyond 50 per cent ceiling also came to be considered. This case has earlier been discussed in these posts.

In the second judgment, the Supreme Court appears to have waited till the conclusion of elections in Punjab, lest its judgment used as a campaign issue. Former Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh has lost his plea that the corruption case against the Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal be tried outside the State. The Court has held that there is no reasonable apprehension that justice will not be done in this case in the State of Punjab.