M. R. BALAJI AND OTHERS vs STATE OF MYSORE

The Supreme Court held that the order by the State of Mysore reserving 68% of seats in educational institutions for backward classes was a fraud on the constitutional power conferred by Article 15(4) of the Constitution. The Court ruled that categorizing backward classes solely on the basis of caste is impermissible under Article 15(4) and that reservations must be reasonable to balance the interests of weaker sections with those of the community as a whole. The impugned order was quashed, emphasizing that while reservations are necessary, they should not exclude deserving candidates from other communities.