Article 16(4) confers a discretionary power on the State to make reservations of appointments in favour of backward class of citizens which in its opinion, are not adequately represented in the services of the State (Rajendran Vs UOI-1968 SCR 721)
2)reservation is given to economically and socially backward class( OBC) and scheduled caste and scheduled tribe. This is to undo the historical injustice done to them,
3) benefits of reservation should not be snatched away by the top creamy layer of the 'backward' caste or class, thus keeping the weakest among the weak always weak.
4)when a person’s social and educational advancement is such that it totally snaps the
connecting link of backwardness between him and other members of his community, he can then be said to be a misfit in his own class and so ought to be taken out from there and placed in the “Creamy Layer” category.
5) if a person gets appointed as a Class I Officer either on open competition basis or reservation basis, the question of excluding him on the ground that he forms part of the ‘Creamy Layer’ does not at all arise. But since he himself has come into the socially advanced category he will be in a position to provide the means, the equipment and the opportunities which are necessary for the uplift of his offspring from the level of social and educational backwardness. As such, the question of applying the Rule of Exclusion will arise only in the case of his offspring.