Ghulam Rasool Lone vs State Of J & K & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the Division Bench of the High Court erred in denying the petitioner relief based on delay, emphasizing that the equal protection clause under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution mandates equal treatment of employees. The Court found that the promotion of Hamiddulah Dar was illegal due to non-compliance with recruitment rules, and thus, the petitioner could not claim a similar promotion based on another's success. The Court declined to interfere with the High Court's judgment, affirming the principle that equality must be enforced legally, not through illegal means.