D. HANMANTH RAO AND ORS. vs STATE OF A.P. AND ORS. ETC.

The Supreme Court upheld the Andhra Pradesh (Roads and Buildings) Engineering Service Rules, 1965, specifically Rule 3(3)(a), which mandates that 37.5% of Assistant Engineer vacancies be filled by direct recruitment and 62.5% by promotion. The Court dismissed the writ petitions of promotee Assistant Engineers, affirming that their seniority was not unjustly disturbed as the direct recruits were placed according to the established quota. The Court emphasized that promotees should accept the regularization process without grievance, as it maintained a balance of justice and did not retroactively affect their seniority prior to 1982.