In Brief
Three police officers directly recruited as Sub-Inspectors in 2003 challenged the promotion of later-promoted Sub-Inspectors to the rank of Inspector. The appellants claimed they were senior and entitled to promotion despite not completing the mandatory eight years' service requirement. The High Court upheld the promotions, holding that Rule 13.14(2) of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934 prescribed an eight-year service eligibility criterion for Inspector promotion. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that this experience requirement continues to apply even after selection grades were abolished in 1987, as it reflects the substantive qualification standard necessary for fitness to the higher rank. The Court adopted purposive construction of the statutory rules to ensure effectiveness.
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