K. JAGANNADHA RAO vs STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH & OTHERS

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of Rule 3(d) of the Andhra Pradesh Police Service Rules, 1966, which allows Deputy Superintendents of Police promoted from category III to category II to receive credit for their entire past service for seniority purposes. The Court found no violation of Article 16 of the Constitution, affirming that the classification and seniority provisions are not arbitrary and fall within the government's policy discretion. The appeal was allowed, reversing the High Court's decision that deemed Rule 3(d) invalid.