Post-Marriage Migration Doesn’t Divest Women of Reservation Benefits: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court held that women who migrate to the State after marriage cannot be denied reservation benefits merely because their caste certificates were issued by another State.

The Court observed that treating such women as “migrants” for reservation purposes is arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution, especially when their caste is recognised as a reserved category in both States.

It further noted that the Recruitment Rules did not mandate possession of a Madhya Pradesh-issued caste certificate.

Cancelling candidature on this ground was found unsustainable, and authorities were directed to verify caste equivalence and grant consequential benefits.