B. CHINNAPPA REDDY vs STATE OF A.P.

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of seniority among Assistant Executive Engineers in the Andhra Pradesh Public Health & Municipal Engineering Department, particularly in light of GOMs No. 647 which regularized temporary appointees without tests. The Court held that the regularization of temporary employees must respect the principles of seniority established in prior judgments, specifically referencing the decision in I.J. Divakar & Ors. vs. Government of Andhra Pradesh & Anr., (1982) 3 SCC 341. The Court ultimately upheld the Tribunal's decision regarding the seniority of direct recruits from 1978-79, affirming the need for adherence to established legal principles in administrative appointments.