Supreme Court of India · 1975-09-19
STATE OF KERALA & ANR. vs N. M. THOMAS & ORS.
- Citation / case number
- SC 1974/60295
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Petitioner
- STATE OF KERALA & ANR.
- Respondent
- N. M. THOMAS & ORS.
- Bench
- RAY, A.N. (CJ),KHANNA, HANS RAJ,MATHEW, KUTTYIL KURIEN,BEG, M.H. & KRISHNAIYER, V.R.,GUPTA, A.C. & FAZALALI, S.M.
Judgment text excerpt
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Rule 13AA of the Kerala State Subordinate Service Rules, 1958, which grants a two-year exemption from passing special departmental tests for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes employees. The Court held that this classification is just and reasonable under Article 16 of the Constitution, which ensures equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. The High Court's decision to strike down the rule was reversed, affirming the State's appeal.