S.P. Shivprasad Pipal vs Union Of India & Ors on 15 April, 1998
(78) At this juncture, it is relevant to add that the issue of merger of cadres has been examined by the Apex Court repeatedly and it has been laid down as a principle of law that merger of cadre and the matter of creation of post is a prerogative of the State policy. It is always open to the State Government to create post or merge the cadres. No employee has the right to object to the merger/integration of the cadre of different departments on the ground that it will adversely affect the prospects of promotion or cover other service benefits. The Apex Court in Shivprasad Pipal Vs. Union of India and others : (1998) 4 SCC 598, after re-emphasising that merger of cadre was essentially a matter of policy went on to lay down certain guidelines, which had to be observed before any decision to merge the cadres can be said to be a valid merger. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the aforesaid report is reproduced as under :-