In Brief
Temporary engineering employees in Andhra Pradesh were offered in 1983 a one-time option: either accept permanent regularization under an earlier 1979 Government Order (seniority fixed from entry date) or opt for seniority based on an APPSC selection conducted in 1978. When none exercised this option within 15 days, their services became final under the 1979 Order. Years later, an Administrative Tribunal granted them a fresh option, attempting to place them in the same seniority category as candidates appointed through the APPSC selection. The Supreme Court held this was jurisdictionally ultra vires: without express Rule or Government order, the Tribunal cannot reopen settled service conditions once statutory option periods have expired. Doing so would prejudice those who lawfully abided by original Government orders. The Court set aside both the Tribunal and High Court orders.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.