I believe though that a meritocracy is a system where people are selected based on an objective criterion, regardless of the above definition of merit Why? If

I believe though that a meritocracy is a system where people are selected based on an objective criterion, regardless of the above definition of merit Why? If two candidates are equal in every way, why not favor the one coming from a disadvantaged background? Shouldn't they be more, rather than equally, likely to achieve more given the same future resources?