As per the law laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court particularly in (2007) 8 SCC 785, the vertical reservation cannot be sacrificed at all and whenever the percentage reserved for the horizontal reservation is satisfied even while allotting the candidates as per the percentage allotted for vertical reservation then there cannot be any separate reservation/allotment for horizontal reservation. Only in case of non-availability of candidates under horizontal reservation after filling up the vertical reservation candidates, the horizontal reservation candidates can be arranged to the extent of their percentage in the last of the list of the selected http://www.judis.nic.in candidates under each vertical category. To put it clearly, they can be arranged only in the last of the vertical reservation candidates under each category to satisfy their percentage and not in the middle, but in this case in the name of rotation vertical reservation is made meaningless by omitting the candidates scored more marks than the candidates of the horizontal reservation and fitting in the candidates of horizontal reservation candidates even over and above the candidates who scored more marks under vertical reservation. Thus the merit among the reserved candidates is given a go by. The 200 point rotation government order runs repugnant to the proviso to Rule 27 (f) of the Act and thus it is to be declared as unconstitutional and ultravires.
In (2007) 8 SCC 785, the Hon'ble Apex Court has held in the paragraph 9 as follows:-
“9. The second relates to the difference between the nature of vertical reservation and horizontal reservation. Social reservations in favour of SC, ST and OBC under Article 16(4) are “vertical reservations”. Special reservations in favour of physically handicapped, women, etc., under Articles 16(1) or 15(3) are “horizontal reservations”. Where a vertical reservation is made in favour of a Backward Class under Article 16(4), the candidates belonging to such Backward Class, may compete for non-reserved posts and if they are appointed to the non- reserved posts on their own merit, their number will not be counted against the quota reserved for respective Backward Class. Therefore, if the number of SC http://www.judis.nic.in candidates, who by their own merit, get selected to open competition vacancies, equals or even exceeds the percentage of posts reserved for SC candidates, it cannot be said that the reservation quota for SCs has been filled. The entire reservation quota will be intact and available in addition to those selected under open competition category.