4 was applied to the ongoing recruitment process relating to the notified 571 vacant posts. The result of the preliminary examination conducted on 12.01.2020 was declared on 21.12.2020, applying the amended Rule 4. Thus, there was no segregation of meritorious reservation category candidates with those from the unreserved category and they were shown in their respective reservation categories only. The number of candidates who cleared the preliminary examination on this basis were 10,767. 7. While so, the vires of amended Rule 4(3)(d)(III) of the Rules of 2015 was challenged by some of the candidates in a batch of writ petitions before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur. By interim order dated 22.01.2021 passed in those cases, the High Court directed that the recruitment process initiated pursuant to the preliminary examination result dated 21.12.2020 shall remain subject to the outcome of the writ petitions. Pursuant thereto, the MPPSC conducted the main examination of the