Authority: Supreme Court of India, Civil Appellate Jurisdiction

Order Date: 04 August 2026

Case Overview

  • Appeal No. 10072/2016 filed by the Executive Director (Personnel) of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Chennai, against respondents P. Jayaprakash and Anr.
  • The dispute stems from a Committee decision dated 03 January 2020 that rejected the respondent’s claim of belonging to a Scheduled Tribe (ST).
  • A writ petition (WP.3350/2020) is pending before the High Court challenging the same Committee finding; the High Court is scheduled to hear the petition shortly.
  • The impugned judgment and order from a lower forum directed the appellant to treat the respondent as a general candidate and retain him in service, despite the earlier rejection of his ST claim.
  • Counsel appearing for the appellant: Mr. Gautam Narayan, Senior Counsel (with Ms. Asmita Singh, AOR). Counsel for the respondents: Mr. Jayanth Muth Raj, Senior Counsel (with Mrs. Malavika Jayanth, AOR and Ms. Nivedita Rani, Adv.).
  • The record of proceedings notes the hearing date as 04‑08‑2026, with the bench comprising Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dipankar Datta and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sheel Nagu.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court set aside the impugned judgment and order (point (a)).
  • Since the respondent has only one year of service remaining, the Court directed the High Court to decide WP.3350/2020 expeditiously (point (b)).
  • All substantive contentions and merits are left open for determination by the High Court (point (c)).
  • If the High Court finds the respondent’s ST claim genuine and the Committee’s finding erroneous, it may order his reinstatement and grant all benefits pertaining to the post, after hearing the appellant (point (d)).
  • Conversely, if the claim is found not genuine, the Committee’s finding stands and the respondent will not be entitled to any further benefits arising from his service since 2004 (point (f)).
  • The civil appeal is disposed of on these terms, and any pending applications, if any, are ordered to stand closed (points 7 and 8 of the order).

Topics: Legal Dispute, Scheduled Tribe Claim