SRI K. PRASAD & ORS. vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the seniority disputes among officers in the Indian Forest Service (IFS) arising from initial recruitments and selections made under the IFS (Recruitment) Rules, 1966. The Court examined the implications of the Kraipak decision and subsequent selections made by Special Selection Boards (SSBs), specifically under Section 4(1) and Section 4(2) of the Recruitment Rules. The Court upheld the validity of the selections made by the SSBs, thereby affirming the seniority of certain officers over direct recruits, and dismissed the appeals of the direct recruits from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, confirming the High Court's decisions.