In Brief
Banaras Hindu University promoted 14 Class-IV employees to Class-III against established rules by introducing an interview and merit-based marks system not authorized in the Manual. The Supreme Court held that the Board of Examiners, lacking statutory authority, had changed the promotion procedure mid-process. The Court ruled that the principle of estoppel cannot override statutory service rules approved by the Executive Council. Seniority subject to passing a written test—not interview-based merit selection—was the mandatory criterion. The judgment was allowed, setting aside the Division Bench's decision and restoring the Single Judge's order directing a fresh promotion exercise strictly per the Manual.
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