MADHUMITA DAS vs STATE OF ORISSA .

The Supreme Court held that the petitioners, who are Judicial Officers, cannot be excluded from consideration for regular posts based on age and eligibility criteria set in the advertisement. The Court emphasized that the performance assessment for the petitioners must use the same parameters as those for other candidates. The selection process for 7 posts may continue, but the 9 posts currently held by the petitioners are to be retained by them until further orders, ensuring their cases are considered for regular vacancies without requiring them to appear for examinations.