In Brief
C. Girija, an Office Superintendent, applied for promotion to Assistant Personnel Officer under 30% limited competitive examination (LDCE) in 1999. She was not selected from four unreserved vacancies, though a SC candidate was promoted. Over six years later, in 2007, she challenged the selection, claiming the reserved post should have been unreserved. The Tribunal and High Court had sided with her, but the Supreme Court reversed this, holding her claim was barred by delay and laches. The Court found no legal infirmity in the vacancy allocation. However, the Court directed payment of her full retiral benefits with 8% interest from one month after retirement, as retirement could be processed independently of promotion disputes.
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