C. Chakkaravarthy & Ors vs Tmt. M. Satyavathy, I.A.S., & Ors

The Supreme Court ruled that the practice of the Government of Pondicherry to count the service of Junior Engineers from the date they passed their degree examination for promotion to Assistant Engineer is contrary to Rule 5 of the Government of Pondicherry Assistant Engineers Recruitment Rules, 1965. The Court held that the High Court's direction to count the entire service prior to obtaining the degree for seniority and promotion was also inconsistent with the Recruitment Rules. Consequently, the Court upheld the validity of the Recruitment Rules and clarified the proper interpretation of seniority in this context.