M. Rathinaswami & Ors vs State Of Tamil Nadu & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of promotion criteria for Assistants in the Tamil Nadu Revenue Subordinate Service, specifically regarding the preferential treatment given to directly recruited Assistants over promotee Assistants as per G.O. Ms. No. 133 dated 7.2.1995. The Court held that the amendments introduced by the G.O. violated the principles of equality and fair competition, as they unjustly favored direct recruits over promotees who had served longer. Consequently, the Court quashed the impugned G.O. and upheld the rights of promotee Assistants to fair consideration for promotion under the Tamil Nadu Revenue Subordinate Service Rules.