Secretary, State Of Karnataka And ... vs Umadevi And Others on 10 April, 2006
5. This Court has also on occasions issued directions which could not
be said to be consistent with the Constitutional scheme of public
employment. Such directions are issued presumably on the basis of
equitable considerations or individualization of justice. The question
arises, equity to whom? Equity for the handful of people who have
approached the Court with a claim, or equity for the teeming millions of
this country seeking employment and seeking a fair opportunity for
competing for employment? When one side of the coin is considered, the
other side of the coin, has also to be considered and the way open to
any court of law or justice, is to adhere to the law as laid down by the
Constitution and not to make directions, which at times, even if do not
run counter to the Constitutional scheme, certainly tend to water down
the Constitutional requirements. It is this conflict that is reflected in
these cases referred to the Constitution Bench.