JUDGMENT

KULDIP SINGH, J.:- The Central Government is the authority under the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre Rules), 1954 [the Cadres Rules] to allocate the members of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) ( directly recruited ( to various State cadres/ Joint cadres under the said Rules. The Central Government has laid down the broad principles of allocation called "the Roster System". The said system was earlier operating from 1966 to 1977. Thereafter till 1984 the allocations were done in accordance with the procedure called "the Limited Zonal Preferences System". Since 1985 batch onwards the Central Government has reverted back to the "Roster system" with some modifications. Reservation to the extent of 15% and 71/2% for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes respectively has been provided in direct recruitment to the IAS. The "Roster system" provides that while allocating the scheduled castes/scheduled tribes candidates to their home State (insiders) vacancies shall be reserved for them in various cadres to the extent reservation-percentage has been provided in direct recruitment to the IAS. This reservation in the process of allocation was challenged by Rajiv Yadav,