​The Madhya Pradesh High Court has recently ruled that the ‘First Come First Serve’ policy is inherently flawed and cannot be applied in matters of public employment. This decision emphasizes that government appointments must be based on merit rather than arbitrary selection methods.​

In a significant case, the court addressed the termination of an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker. The petitioner, who possessed a Class XII education, was terminated in favor of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidate with a Class VIII education. The court found that the petitioner was not provided an opportunity for a hearing before her termination, violating principles of procedural fairness. Furthermore, the court noted that preference for ST candidates applies only when such candidates meet the minimum educational qualifications required for the position. As the ST candidate did not meet these qualifications, the court quashed the termination order and reinstated the petitioner .​

This ruling reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring fairness and meritocracy in public sector employment, highlighting that selection processes must adhere to constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination.​

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