The Supreme Court has ruled that Deputy Collector promotees in Uttarakhand can count their ad hoc service while determining their seniority. A Bench comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe considered an appeal concerning the entitlement of the promotees to receive credit for their ad hoc service. The Court observed that the State could not benefit from its own continuing default by treating the appointments as legally invalid. The promotees had been appointed on an ad hoc basis following recommendations by a duly constituted Departmental Promotion Committee and were subsequently regularised by the competent authority. The Court held that the absence of consultation with the Commission did not disentitle the promotees from receiving the benefit available under the relevant service rules. The judgment therefore provides relief to the Deputy Collector promotees by allowing their qualifying ad hoc service to be considered while determining their seniority.
