M. Nagaraj v. Union of India: Apex Court’s Result Oriented Approach on Purposive Interpretation

The Hon’ble Supreme Court (hereinafter “Sup Ct.”) in its seminal judgement of M. Nagaraj & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors, had created quite a stir pertaining the reservation rights among the schedule cast (hereinafter “SC”) and schedule tribe (hereinafter “ST”) communities in India. The judgement sparked a great debate while deciding the constitutional virtue of the art. 16(4) of the Constitution. As a result, the concept of the reservation witnesses a shift from reservations based on the former idea of equality and meritocracy, to the notion of substantive equality in opportunities at the workplace. The verdict since its inception ruffled the feathers of politicians and backward communities alike. And, the present study seeks to unravel the dictum and bring fort the theoretical implication it has brought about in the legal world and posterity of the SC and ST communities in India.