UNION OF INDIA vs S.K. SAIGAL .

The Supreme Court upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's decision that the promotion criteria for departmental candidates under Rule 7(2)(b) of the Central Ground Water Board (Scientific Group 'A' Posts) Recruitment Rules, 1995, which required 5 years of service in Grade 'B', was discriminatory compared to the 8 years required for deputationists. The Court emphasized that similar qualifications should lead to uniform eligibility criteria for promotion, regardless of the employment status of the candidates. The Court directed the appellants to consider the promotion of the respondents to Scientists Grade 'C' based on their 8 years of service without invalidating the existing Rules.