India, April 8 -- Belonging to a backward community, by itself, cannot tilt the scales in favour of a candidate, the Supreme Court has underlined, holding that public employment cannot be dispensed on considerations of sympathy or social background.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma said that "grace, charity or compassion ought to stay at a distance" in matters of public employment if a fair and level playing field is to be ensured for all aspirants.

"Merely because one belongs to the backward community cannot be the decisive factor for tilting the scales," the bench held in its judgment released on April 4. The court's observations came while allowing an appeal filed by the Delhi Police against orders of Cent...