LT.COL. K.D. GUPTA vs SMT.P.P. KAKADE

The Supreme Court held that the lower medical categorization of the petitioner, a Lt. Colonel in the Indian Army, prejudiced his promotion prospects, rejecting the respondents' argument that it was unrelated. The Court emphasized that promotion in the defense services requires individual assessment and cannot be based solely on batch-mate comparisons. The petitioner was awarded Rs. 4 lakhs as compensation for suffering and loss of reputation, while being entitled to all service benefits of his rank, and directed payment within two months.