Surinder Singh vs Punjab State Elect.Board,Patiala & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the determination of backward class status should not solely rely on the personal income of the candidate but must consider the broader context of the family's socio-economic status. The Court found that the High Court's conclusion that the appellant belonged to the 'creamy layer' based on his personal income was a misinterpretation of the applicable policy instructions. Consequently, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court's decision, reinstating the appellant's eligibility for the reserved category based on merit as he scored higher marks than the competing candidate.