In Brief
The State of Orissa initiated a recruitment process in April 2008 to fill 150 vacant OAS Class II administrative posts through promotion and selection under the 1978 Rules. Candidates, including the respondents, were recommended by departmental authorities but no Selection Board was ever constituted to finalize a merit list. In 2009, the State restructured the administrative cadre, abolishing OAS Class II posts and creating the Orissa Revenue Service Group B cadre instead. A High Court Division Bench ordered completion of the 2008 recruitment under the repealed 1978 Rules. The Supreme Court held that the respondents had no vested right to promotion based merely on being recommended, as the recruitment process was incomplete. Since no Selection Board had considered them and the old cadre was abolished, they could not claim appointment under repealed rules in an abolished cadre. The appeal was allowed and the High Court judgment set aside.
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