Reservation of appointments or posts for rural candidates.-

Notwithstanding anything contained in any judgement, decree or order of any court or other authority having regard to the serious handicap suffered by rural candidates who have studied in rural schools as compared to those who have studied in urban schools and the inadequate representation of rural candidates in the civil services of the State, twenty-five percent of the vacancies earmarked for direct recruitment in each of the categories of General Merit, the Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes and in each of the categories of the Other Backward Classes shall be reserved for rural candidates: Provided that in the case of a rural candidate belonging to general merit or the other backward classes except category I, concept of creamy layer as may be applicable as per the orders of the Government with regard to reservation issued under clause (4) of Article 16 of the Constitution shall apply mutatis mutandis.