Saroj Kumar vs U.O.I & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the downgrading of Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) without prior communication to the employee violates principles of natural justice and the established legal precedent in Dev Dutt v. Union of India. The Court emphasized that uncommunicated ACRs must be ignored in promotion considerations, aligning with the ruling in Abhijit Ghosh Dastidar v. Union of India. The Court upheld the High Court's decision to set aside the Central Administrative Tribunal's order, thereby favoring the appellant's claim for promotion.