S. RAMASWAMY vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under Rule 2 of the Directorate General of Technical Development (Class I Posts) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 1974, officers on special duty are in a separate grade from Development Officers, despite identical pay scales. The Court clarified that the amended rules do not restrict the promotion of Development Officers to the post of Industrial Adviser only when qualified candidates from higher categories are unavailable. The appeal was allowed, directing the inclusion of the appellant's name in the list of eligible officers for promotion.