UNION OF INDIA vs VIPINCHANDRA HIRALAL SHAH

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of whether it is permissible to club vacancies from multiple years when preparing the select list for promotion to the Indian Administrative Service from the State Civil Service. The Court upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's decision that such clubbing is not permissible under the Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulation, 1955, specifically referencing Regulation 5, which mandates separate select lists for each year. Consequently, the Court ruled in favor of the respondent, affirming that the selection process must adhere to the annual preparation of lists to ensure fairness.