Kuldeep Kumar Gupta & Ors vs H.P.S.E.B. & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the legality of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board's promotion regulations, which provided a separate quota for unqualified Junior Engineers over qualified diploma holders. The Court held that such differentiation in promotion quotas was arbitrary and irrational, violating principles of equality and fairness under Article 14 of the Constitution. Consequently, the Court quashed the regulations that allowed for a separate promotional quota for unqualified Junior Engineers, affirming the need for a unified seniority list for all Junior Engineers regardless of qualification.