Manjula Sircar & Ors vs Harendra Bahadur Singh & Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision that the 20% reservation for women candidates in the appointment of Civil Judges (Jr. Division) was not valid due to lack of consultation with the High Court, as mandated by Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution of India. The Court exercised its jurisdiction under Article 142 to prevent the termination of women candidates who had already been appointed and served for over six years. Consequently, the direction for rearranging the select list to exclude women candidates was set aside, ensuring their continued service.