A.P.Public Service Commission vs Baloji Badhavath & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the validity of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission's selection process for Group-I services, emphasizing that reservation rules cannot be applied at the admission stage of the main examination, as it violates Articles 14, 16, and 335 of the Constitution of India. The Court held that maintaining administrative efficiency is paramount and that lowering standards for compensatory preference must not compromise merit or proficiency. The judgment reaffirmed the principle that the intensity of compensatory preference should not undermine the quality of public service.