REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE/ORIGINAL JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO(S). 9176 OF 2018 (@ SLP (C) NO(S).22444 OF 2017)

Prabhat Ranjan Singh & Anr. …. Appellant(s)

Versus R.K. Kushwaha & Ors. … Respondent(s)

WITH CONTEMPT PETITION (C) NO. 717 OF 2018 IN SLP (C) NO(S).22444 OF 2017 CONTEMPT PETITION (C) NO. 732 OF 2018 IN SLP (C) NO(S).22444 OF 2017 SLP (C) NO(S). 4144 OF 2018 T.C. (C) No. 52 OF 2018

J U D G M E N T

Deepak Gupta J.

Signature Not Verified Digitally signed by SANJAY KUMAR Date: 2018.09.07 1. Leave granted in appeal arising out of SLP (C) No(s).

Reason:

22444 of 2017.

2. This is yet another battle, in the seemingly never ending war between promotees and direct recruits.

3. In the Indian Railways, there is a service known as the Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (for short ‘the IRSSE’). This is a Group-A service. Recruitment to the service is by two modes – 50% by direct recruitment and 50% by promotion from amongst Group-B officers in the feeder services. The direct recruits are selected through an examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (for short ‘the UPSC’).

4. On 23.10.2007, the Ministry of Railways issued a requisition t