Union Of India And Anr vs Lalita S. Rao & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of seniority between two categories of doctors in the Railway Administration, focusing on the legality of ad hoc appointments made prior to the establishment of formal recruitment rules under Article 309 of the Constitution. The Court held that ad hoc appointments were not contemplated under the Recruitment Rules and directed that all such doctors appointed as Assistant Medical Officers or Assistant Divisional Medical Officers on ad hoc basis up to October 1, 1984, should be regularized based on their performance evaluations by the Union Public Service Commission. The ruling emphasized the need for adherence to statutory recruitment processes and the rights of ad hoc appointees.