Highly qualified people cannot apply for jobs intended for lower qualifications

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that applicants having higher educational qualifications when applying for jobs intended for less qualified candidates undermines the rights of truly qualified applicants. A bench consist of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan said that allowing more qualified candidates to get such jobs would be unfair for those the posts were specifically created. The court noted that when a position is reserved for a candidate with a particular lower qualification allows a person with a higher qualification to get that appointment, it would deprive a qualified candidate from getting the opportunity. The Supreme Court, in its judgment, cited an example set in the case of Jomon KK vs. Shajimon P (2025) and reiterated that government appointments must be prepared based on the qualifications suggested for a post. The bench of judges clarified that possessing qualifications beyond those required for a job does not automatically entitle a candidate to be hired. The court emphasized that the appointing authority should ensure that the eligibility conditions are implemented and that vacant posts are filled by candidates who meet the specified criteria’s.