The Government of West Bengal appealed against a High Court decision which upheld the West Bengal Administrative Tribunal's order that respondent Dr. Amal Satpathi should be granted notional financial benefits for a promotional post (Chief Scientific Officer) he was eligible for, but did not assume before his retirement. Dr. Satpathi had been promoted to Principal Scientific Officer in 2008 and became eligible for the Chief Scientific Officer role in January 2016, but delays in the promotion process meant that the final approval came after his retirement in December 2016. The Tribunal ruled in his favor, granting him notional benefits, though not a retrospective promotion.

The Supreme Court concluded that while Dr. Satpathi had the right to be considered for promotion, he did not have a right to retrospective promotion or financial benefits from the promotional post, as promotions are effective only when duties are assumed. The Court reversed the previous decisions, ruling in favor of the appellants.