NARSINGH PRASAD vs ANIL KUMAR JAIN .

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision to quash the Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Parishad's order appointing the appellant as Chief Engineer on an officiating basis. The Court found that the Parishad failed to consider the criteria of merit as mandated by the Uttar Pradesh Avas Evam Vikas Prishad (Appointment and Conditions of Service of Chief Engineer) Regulations, 1990, particularly Regulations 8 and 11. The Court held that in the absence of a merit-based selection, the senior-most eligible candidate must be appointed, thereby affirming the High Court's directive for reconsideration of the respondent's claim to the post.