MAHARASHTRA FOREST GUARDS AND FORESTERS UNION NAGPUR vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS.

The Supreme Court examined whether the educational qualification requirement for participating in the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination (LDCE) for the post of Forester violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The Court held that while the requirement of five years of service is valid, the additional restriction of requiring a graduate degree is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The Court emphasized that the opportunity must be available to all eligible candidates, including non-graduates, to ensure fairness in the promotion process.