COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA, GIAN PRAKASH, NEW vs K.S. JAGANNATHAN & ANR.

The Supreme Court ruled that Article 226 empowers the court to issue a writ of mandamus directing the government to exercise its discretion in a specified manner regarding the relaxation of qualifying standards for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates in civil service examinations. The Court held that the Office Memorandum dated January 21, 1977 mandates that relaxation must be determined in advance and notified before the examination, ensuring compliance with Articles 16(4), 46, and 335 of the Constitution. The Court directed the authorities to reconsider the relaxation criteria for the candidates in question, emphasizing the need for adherence to constitutional provisions.