Quota candidates using relaxations ineligible for open category posts: Maharashtra cabinet decision

Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a policy that candidates from reserved categories, who avail concessions in competitive examinations such as age relaxation and educational qualification, will not be eligible to claim appointment against open category posts.The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, a statement issued by the General Administration Department said.However, the Congress alleged that the move shows the "hidden agenda to dilute reservation". Under the policy, reserved category candidates who have not availed any concession at any stage of the recruitment process in terms of age, educational qualification, experience or number of attempts allowed in examinations — excluding examination fee concessions — will be eligible for selection in the open category on the basis of merit.However, candidates from reserved categories who have availed any relaxation provided by the government in age, educational qualification, experience or number of examination attempts will continue to be counted against their respective reserved category quotas.