H.S. VERMA & ORS. vs SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF SHIPPING & TRANSPORT AND ORS. ETC.,E

The Supreme Court examined the validity of appointments made under the Central Engineering Service (Roads) Recruitment Rules, 1959, specifically focusing on the amendment introduced in 1966 allowing recruitment by interview. The Court held that appointments made contrary to the prescribed methods in Rule 3 of the 1959 Rules could not be regularized and that the interview appointees were not part of the regular cadre, thus affirming the High Court's decision. The Court emphasized that the rules did not have retrospective effect and that temporary appointments made outside the service were not illegal under the existing framework.