SRI GOPABANDHU BISWAL vs KRISHNA CHANDRA MOHANTY .

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal which directed that Gopabandhu Biswal, an Assistant Commandant in the Orissa Military Police, be considered for promotion to the Indian Police Service (I.P.S.) cadre from 1.1.1997, based on the finding that prior to 5th November 1980, the posts of Deputy Superintendents of Police and Assistant Commandants constituted a single cadre. The Court dismissed the review petition filed by the respondents challenging the Tribunal's earlier decision, affirming that the bifurcation of the cadre occurred only after the specified date. The Court's holding reinforces the principle of promotion eligibility based on cadre classification prior to administrative changes.