NANI SHA vs STATE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH .

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Guwahati High Court, confirming that the retrospective promotions granted to the appellants as Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) were illegal under the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Service Rules. The Court emphasized that the appellants were not part of the ACF cadre at the time of the retrospective promotion and that the 50:50 quota for direct recruits and promotees was only introduced by an amendment in 1999. Consequently, the promotions dated back to 1994 were deemed invalid, maintaining the seniority of the directly appointed respondents who joined in 1996.