State Of H.P. And Anr. vs Piar Singh

The Supreme Court considered appeals by the State of Himachal Pradesh against a tribunal's decision to grant service benefits to civil servants who joined the defense services prior to 1.11.1962. The central issue was whether the cut-off date of 1.11.1962 established by the Demobilized Armed Forces Personnel Rules, 1972, for eligibility for reservation and seniority benefits was arbitrary and irrational. The tribunal had previously granted benefits to pre-1962 recruits, finding a lack of nexus between the cut-off date and the intended benefits.