The Delhi High Court has ruled that aspirants from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) cannot seek parity with SC/ST/OBC candidates for relaxations in upper age limits or number of attempts in Central government appointments. Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan noted that the handicaps faced by socially backward and economically deprived classes differ.
A bench of the Delhi High Court dismissed pleas by EWS aspirants seeking age relaxations and additional attempts in Central government recruitment processes.
Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan stated, “The EWS category cannot claim automatic parity with SC/ST/OBC in ancillary considerations such as age relaxation or enhanced attempts.” They emphasized that handicaps of socially backward classes differ from those of economically deprived ones.
The ruling came on April 17, 2026, clarifying distinctions between social backwardness and economic deprivation in reservation benefits.
