SAROJ KUMAR vs U.O.I .

The Supreme Court held that the downgrading of the appellant's Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) without prior communication violated principles of natural justice, as established in Dev Dutt v. Union of India (2008) 8 SCC 725 and Abhijit Ghosh Dastidar v. Union of India (2009) 16 SCC 146. The Court ruled that uncommunicated ACR entries must be ignored in promotion considerations, thereby upholding the High Court's decision to set aside the Central Administrative Tribunal's order. The appeal was dismissed, affirming the High Court's judgment.