The Supreme Court clarified that general category posts in recruitment are open to all candidates based on merit, not reserved for specific groups. Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih stated that "open," "unreserved," or "general" vacancies are available to everyone, irrespective of social classification. Treating the general category exclusively for non-reserved candidates would violate constitutional guarantees of equality. This clarification came during a hearing on an appeal against a Rajasthan High Court verdict concerning recruitment of clerical staff.