Kandambige Wimal Kandambi vs Road Development Authority & others – CA WRIT 690/2024-2025

In the case between Kandambige Wimal Kandambi and the Road Development Authority (RDA) alongside associated government officials, the court addressed the legality of the appointment process for the post of Director General of the RDA. The dispute centered on whether strict adherence to the approved Scheme of Recruitment (SOR) requiring appointments to be made in order of interview merit had been observed, or whether alternative criteria such as seniority could lawfully override this mandate. The holding established that the appointment of the 19th Respondent, who had obtained a lower interview score than the Petitioner, was ultra vires, arbitrary, and procedurally improper due to non-compliance with the SOR. Reliance was placed on the clear wording and binding character of the SOR and the