The Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution doesn’t outline criteria for government servant promotions, allowing the legislature and executive to establish norms based on post requirements. Citing Article 16, the court clarified that promotion isn’t a guaranteed right, except if violating equal opportunity principles. While favoring merit over seniority, the court highlighted ‘merit-cum-seniority’ and ‘seniority-cum-merit’ principles, evolving through judicial interpretation rather than statutory backing. These principles, not mandatory, provide a flexible framework for promotion policies, contingent on post nature and service requirements.