Rajasthan Court Rules ST Status Not Valid Across State Borders

A division bench of the Rajasthan High Court has dismissed a special appeal by Bariaya Sharmishtha Ben, a woman who relocated to Rajasthan after marriage from Gujarat, denying her claim to ST (scheduled tribe) reservation in a government nursing officer recruitment drive.

The court's order clarified that an individual's scheduled tribe classification under one state's official list does not automatically transfer or hold validity in another state's administrative framework. The ruling establishes that reservation benefits tied to specific state-level schedules cannot be unilaterally extended across state boundaries.

The case centered on Sharmishtha Ben's attempt to secure ST reservation quota while applying for a nursing officer position in Rajasthan. Despite holding valid ST status in her native Gujarat, the court found that she could not claim the same benefits under Rajasthan's distinct scheduled tribe designation and eligibility criteria.

The judgment underscores the constitutional framework governing reservation policies in India, wherein each state maintains its own official lists of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes. Job applicants seeking reservation benefits must establish eligibility under the specific state's criteria where they are applying, rather than relying on certification from another state.

The decision carries implications for thousands of inter-state migrants and job seekers who hold reservation status in their home states but seek employment in other parts of the country.