In Brief
The appellants were selected as Junior Engineers in 1997 but their appointment was later challenged and set aside by the High Court's Division Bench because their examination results were declared after the prescribed cut-off date (31.07.1997), making them ineligible at the time of selection. The Supreme Court allowed their appeal, setting aside the Division Bench's judgment. Although technically the candidates lacked the required qualification on the cut-off date, the Court granted relief based on the appellants' nearly eighteen years of continuous service, prior litigation supporting their position, their inability to apply in subsequent selections (becoming age-barred), and the fact that the competing claimant had no realistic chance of selection. The Court balanced strict eligibility rules with equitable considerations of long service and finality."/> </invoke>
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