Ragunathan v. Jayawardene, Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Highways and Others – sllr 1994 volume 2 page 255

In the case between Ragunathan (Plaintiff) and Jayawardene, Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Highways, and others (Defendants), the court addressed the issue of whether a petitioner’s claim of unequal treatment under Article 12 of the Constitution has merit when the petitioner is denied promotion due to failing to meet qualification criteria, while another candidate is promoted after meeting those requirements. It was held that unequal circumstances do not warrant identical treatment; the petitioner, having failed the prescribed examination, was not similarly situated as the individual promoted. The established principle is that equality before the law does not require identical treatment of persons who are materially different in relevant respects. The rationale, grounded in constitut