The top court has ruled that there is no fundamental right to reservation in appointments and promotions in public services under Articles 16(4) and 16(4A) of the Constitution. It added that it was the discretion of the governments, either at the state or Centre, to grant reservation in promotions. Constitutional expert Faizan Mustafa says it is a letdown for depressed classes. “The SC judgment is disappointing as the court has overlooked judgment of the larger benches on the relationship of Article 16(1) with that of Article 16(4). Article 16 (1) talks of right to equal opportunities in jobs and prohibits discrimination only on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, residence and descent. Article 16(4) says that nothing shall prevent the state from making reservation in favour of any backward class,” he says.