In Brief
The Supreme Court examined whether an employee could seek correction of their recorded date of birth after 24 years of service. The Karnataka State Servants (Determination of Age) Act, 1974 prescribes a three-year window for such applications. The employee argued ignorance of the employer's adoption of these rules. The Court held that applications for date-of-birth correction at the fag end of service are generally unsustainable, delay and laches are valid rejection grounds even without explicit time-limits, and ignorance of law is no excuse. The Court affirmed principles protecting seniority and promotion prospects of junior employees from disruption caused by belated corrections.
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