SURAJ PARKASH GUPTA vs STATE OF J&K

The Supreme Court addressed the validity of the Jammu & Kashmir Government's order regularizing ad hoc promotions of Assistant Engineers and Assistant Executive Engineers without consulting the Public Service Commission, as per the High Court's judgment dated 14.12.1998. The Court held that ad hoc service cannot be regularized unless the appointment is made according to established rules, affirming the High Court's decision that direct recruits are entitled to seniority over promotees. Consequently, the appeals by the promotees were dismissed, upholding the direct recruits' claims for seniority and promotion.