Summarize the following court judgment. ivil Appeal Nos.896 to 899 of 1988 and Civil Appeal No. 3352 of 1988. From the Judgment and Order dated 2.9.1987 of the Delhi High Court in C.W.P. No. 2131	2082 of 1984 respectively. PG NO 257 G. Ramaswami	 Additional Solicitor General	 R.K. Jain	 P.P. Rao	 M.S. Gujaral	 section Rangarajan	 A.K. Sanghi	 Mrs. Madhu Kapur	 Arun Kr. Vijayesh Roy	 Sanjay Kr. Kaul	 Sardar Bahadur	 V.B. Saharaya	 R.K. Khanna	 Vishnu Mathur	 Ashok Aggarwal	 R.N. Keswani and R.S. Sodhi for the appearing parties. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by VENKATACHALIAH	 J. These four Civil Appeals by Special Leave and the Special Leave Petition arise out of and are directed against the common Judgment dated 2.9.1987	 of the High Court of Delhi in C.W.P. No. 2132 and C.W.P. No. 2082 of 1984 in which the principal controversy was whether the Rules prescribing different conditions of eligibility for Diploma Holders and Graduates for promotion from the cadre of Junior Engineers to that of Assistant Engineers and from the cadre of Assistant Engineers to that of Executive Engineers in the Public Works Department of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution and would	 therefore	 require to be declared void. The High Court	 in the writ petitions filed by the Diploma Holders	 has held that such differential treatment of Diploma Holders and Graduates by the prescription of different standards of service experience for purposes of eligibility for promotion to the higher cadres is unconstitutional. The D.D.A. which is the appellant in Civil Appeals No.898 of 1988 and No. 899 of 1988 assails the correctness of the view taken by the High Court. Civil Appeals No. 896 of 1988 and 897 of 1988 are by the Graduate Engineers who were respondents before the High Court and who are	 similarly	 aggrieved by the decision under appeal SLP 6181 of 1988 is by the DDA Graduate Engineers Association" which seeks to espouse the cause of the Graduate Engineers. We grant Special Leave in SLP. All the five appeals are heard and disposed of by this common judgment. PG NO 258 C.A.899 of of 1988 and SLP 6181 arise out of C.W.P. 2132 of of of 1988 arise out of C.W.P. 2082 of 1984. The D.D.A. by its resolution No. 574 dated 13.11.1963 adopted	 pro tanto	 the rules of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in regard to the mode of recruitment both by direct recruitment and by promotion to the posts of Asst. Engineers. The rules	 so adopted	 in substance	 stipulate and provide that 50% of the posts be filled by direct recruitment or by deputation and that the other 50% be filled up by promotion from the cadre of Junior Engineers. The cadre of Junior Engineers itself comprises of both Graduates in Engineering and Diploma Holders in Engineering. The two categories of officers in the cadre of Junior Engineers were provided with promotional opportunities to the post of Asst. Engineers in the equal ratio (50%:50%) of the promotional posts. Half of it	 i.e.	 25% was to be filled up by promotion of Graduate Engineers with three years ' service experience as Junior Engineers; the other 25% to be filled up from Diploma Holder Junior Engineers who were diploma holders who had 8 years ' service experience as Junior Engineers. By resolution No. 105 dated 16.6.1971 the DDA similarly adopted the relevant rules in the CPWD in the matter of recruitment to the posts of Executive Engineers. The Executive Engineers ' post in the DDA thus became purely promotional and Graduate Asst. Engineers with 8 years ' service experience and diploma Asst. Engineers with 10 years ' service experience were eligible for promotion. No inter se quota between the two class of officers was prescribed. The following table delineates the effect and purport of the rules adopted under resolution No. 574 dated 13.11.1963 and No. 105 dated 16.6.1971. The table also indicates the mode of initial recruitment to the cadre of Junior Engineers: PG NO 259 EXECUTIVE ENGINEERS [By promotion] Asst. Engrs. ' Asst. Engrs. ' [Degree] + [Diploma] 8 years +10 years service service ASSISTANT ENGINEERS Graduates and Dimploma holders 50%by promotion 50%.By Direct recruitment 25% 25% Jr. Enger. [Degree] [Diploma] +3 yrs. + 8 years service service JUNIOR ENGINEERS [Sectional Officers] Direct recruitment Graduates in Diploma Engineering holders [No prior [with 2 experience years Prescribed] experience In the years 1984 the Diploma Holder in the cadre of Junior Engineers and in he cadre of Asst. Engineers sought to assail	 by means of two writ petitions presented to the Delhi High Court	 the Constitutional validity of the prescriptions made by the rules in the matter of requirement of differential service experiences between the Graduates and Diploma Holders for promotion to the higher cadres viz. of Asst. Engineers and Executive Engineers respectively. They also assailed the promotions of Graduate Engineers to the higher cadres made on the strength of the Rules. 2132 of 1984 pertained to the resolution No. 574 dated 13.11.1963 adopting the relevant CPWD Rules prescribing 3 years ' and 8 years ' service experience for Graduates and Diploma Holders respectively and the discrimination thus brought about between them. CWP No. 2082 of 1984 pertained to the contitutionality of the analogous provisions in the rules adopted by resolution No. 105 dated 16.6.1971. PG NO 260 The High Court heard these two petitions together and by its common judgment dated 2.9.1987 upheld the challenge and declared the different standards of service experience prescribed for Degree Holders and Diploma Holders in respect of both the cadres as violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. The principal question that arises in these appeals is whether	 where	 as here	 recruitment to a particular cadre of posts is made	 from two different sources	 different conditions	 based on the differences in educational qualifications	 can be prescribed conditioning the eligibility for further promotion to a higher cadre in service. The High Court	 by the judgment now under appeal	 has held that such prescription of differential standards based even on the differences in technical	 educational qualifications is violative of Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution. In reaching such conclusions as it did on the point	 the High Court placed reliance on the pronouncement of this Court in Mohammad Shujat Ali vs UOI and Others	[1975] 1 SCR 449	 H. C. Sharma and Ors. vs Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Ors.	 ; and Punjab State Electricity Board	Patiala	 and Anr. vs Ravinder Kumar Sharma & Ors. 	[1986] 4 SCC 617 and T.R: Kapur and Others vs State of Haryana and Others	 ; The High Court distinguished the decision of this (Court in State of Jammu & Kashmir vs Triloki Nath Khosa & Ors.	 l1974] 1 SCR 771. The High Court drew a distinction between the situation where diploma holders were wholly excluded from eligibility for promotion to the higher cadre and the situation where	 while they were considered eligible for promotion	 however	 were subjected to more onerous and less advantageous conditions for such promotion. The High Court distinguished Triloki Nath Khosa 's case observing: "7. This was a case where diploma holders were found completely ineligible for promotion to the higher post for lack of essential educational qualification but the considerations may vary if they are found eligible for promotion to the higher post but still certain conditions are laid as distinct from degree holders before they become eligible for promotion. The question then would arise whether such distinction can be justified and is based on any rationality or not . " PG NO 261 Answering this point in favour of the "Diploma Holders" the High Court held: ". The moment the diploma holders and degree holders are considered to constitute one class for purposes of promotion there cannot be any differentiation between the two vis a vis the qualification for promotion. It could be that for reasons of efficiency in administration the authorities may lay down that diploma holders are not at all eligible for promotion to the higher post and such a bar can be upheld in view of the ratio laid down in the case of Triloki Nath Khosa but after the authorities considered them eligible for promotion there could be no rationale in their making any distinction between the degree holders and diploma holders for granting promotion to them to the higher post. " (Emphasis Supplied) The point of distinction	 as apprehended by the High Court	 is that in the present case a Diploma	 ipso facto	 qualifies for promotion. The real question is whether this assumption is correct and whether the relevant Rules determine the eligibility for promotion on the basis of a Diploma	 or for that matter even a Degree	 Or whether the eligibility for promotion is determined not with reference merely to the educational attainments but on the basis of educational qualifications plus a measure of service experience	 stipulated differently for Graduates and Diploma Holders. Learned counsel for the appellants	 contended that the view that commended itself to the High Court is demonstrably erroneous and is opposed to principles which	 by now	 should be considered well settled. They submitted that the High Court fell into an obvious error in its view that in Shujat Ali 's case ( ; 	 this Court had stuck down the service rule impugned in that case. Learned Counsel submitted that the fundamental distinction between the two sets of cases	 one of which Triloki Nath Khosa 's case is represents	 and the other typified by Shujat Ali 's case	 was lost sight of by the High Court and the error pervading the judgment is the result of overlooking this essential distinction between the two sets of cases. It was contended for the appellants that the present case was not one in which the Diploma Holders proprio vigore	 and without more	 were held eligible for promotion. If the effect and intent of the rules were such as to treat PG NO 262 Diploma as equivalent to a Degree for purposes of further promotion then	 the view of the High Court that having considered both class of officers equally eligible for promotion on the mere strength of their educational qualifications	 any further discrimination brought about by subjecting the Diploma Holders alone to a more onerous and less advantageous stipulation for such promotion would violate	 the constitutional pledge of equality might have some qualification. But in the present case	 counsel contended	 that is not the position. The educational qualification of a Diploma in engineering was not treated as equivalent to a Degree for purposes of determining eligibility. Nor the Degree itself was determinative of eligibility for promotion. The eligibility for promotion is	 it is urged	 based on a combination of factors which vary according as the basic educational qualification of the two classes of engineers; that this distinction was germane to the requirements of higher technical and academic quality for the higher posts which involved expertise in structural design etc. Learned counsel submitted that even where recruitment to a particular cadre was made from different sources	 resulting in the formation of single a homogeneous cadre	 it was not impermissible to make a further classification amongst the members of such a cadre for purposes of further promotion based on the higher educational qualification of the candidates. Learned counsel for the respondent diploma holders	 while seeking to support the judgment of the High Court urged that this Court had	 more than once	 cautioned against undue accent	 in the matter of promotional opportunities	 on academic qualification alone which might lead to elitist preferences and tend to obscure the egalitarian principle and social justice. It was	 therefore	 contended that the effect of the distinction	 in the ultimate analysis	 is really an imperceptible extension or magnification of insubstantial factors sub verting the precious guarantee of equality. Sri Gujral	 learned Senior Counsel	 sought to impart to the situation a dimension of social justice and made an impassioned plea that to discriminate between Diploma Holders and Graduates who belong to the same cadre and hold inter changeable posts	 both in the present cadre and in the prospective promotional posts	 on the mere lack of some higher academic attainment is to place a high premium on those social and economic ills of the society which rendered the further academic pursuits for the economically disadvantaged difficult. A large number of authorities were cited on either side. We by first examine the cases relied upon by the High Court in support of its conclusion. The inherent distinction PG NO 263 between a person with a Degree and one who is merely a Diploma Holder is much too obvious. But the question that falls for consideration	 in the context such as the present one	 is whether the differences have a reasonable relation to the nature of the office to which the promotion is contemplated. The idea of equality in the matter of promotion can be predicated only when the candidates for promotion are drawn from the same source. If the differences in the qualification has a reasonable relation to the nature of duties and responsibilities	 that go with and are attendant upon the promotional post	 the more advantageous treatment of those who possess higher technical qualifications can be legitimised on the doctrine of classification. There may	 conceivably	 be cases where the differences in the educational qualifications may not be sufficient to give any preferential treatment to one class of candidates as against another. Whether the classification is reasonable or not must	 therefore	 necessarily depend upon facts of each case and the circumstances obtaining at the relevant time. When the state makes a classification between two sources	 unless the vice of the classification is writ large on the face of it	 the person assailing the classification must show that it is unreasonable and violative of Article 14. A wooden equality as between all classes of employees irrespective of all distinctions or qualifications	 or job requirements is neither constitutionally compelled nor practically meaningful. This Court in Central Railway vs A.V.R. Siddhanti; 	 at 214 observed: ". A wooden equality as between all classes of employees regardless of qualifications	 kind of jobs	 nature of responsibility and performance of the employees is not intended	 nor is it practicable if the administration is to run. Indeed	 the maintenance of such a 'classless and undiscerning 'equality ' where	 in reality	 glaring inequalities and intelligible differentia exist	 will deprive the guarantee of its practical content. Broad classification based on reason	 executive pragmatism and experience having a direct relation with the achievement of efficiency in administration	 is permissible . In T. Devadasan vs The Union of India	[1964]4 SCR 680 at 689 & 690 this Court observed: ". What is meant by equality in this Article is	 equality amongst equals. It does not provide for an absolute equality of treatment to all persons in utter disregard PG NO 264 in every conceivable circumstance of the differences such as age	 sex	 education and so on and so forth as may be found amongst people in general. Indeed	 while the aim of this Article is to ensure that invidious distinction or arbitrary discrimination shall not be made by the State between a citizen and a citizen who answer the same description and the differences which may obtain between them are of no relevance for the purpose of applying a particular law reasonable classification is permissible. It does not mean anything more. But then the process of classification is in itself productive of inequality and in that sense antithetical of equality. The process would be constitutionally valid if it recognises a pre existing inequality and acts in aid of amelioration of the effects of such pre existent inequality. But the process cannot in itself generate or aggravate the inequality. The process cannot merely blow up or magnify in substantial or microscopic differences on merely meretricious or plausible dif ferences. The over emphasis on the doctrine of classification or any anxious and sustained attempts to discover some basis for classification may gradually and imperceptibly deprive the article of its precious content and end in replacing Doctrine of equality by the doctrine of classification. The presumption of good faith in and of constitutionality of a classification cannot be pushed "to the point of predicating some possible or hypothetical but undisclosed and unknown reason for a classification rendering the precious guarantee of equality "a mere rope of sand". "To overdo classification is to undo equality". The idea of similarity or dissimilarity of situations of persons	 to justify classification	 cannot rest on merely differentia which may	 by themselves be rational or logical	 but depends on whether the differences are relevant to the goals sought to be reached by the law which seeks to classify. The justification of the classification must needs	 therefore	 to be sought beyond the classification. All marks of distinction do not necessarily justify classification irrespective of the relevance or nexus to objects sought to be achieved by the law imposing the classification. In Mohd. Sujat Ali 's case the validity of a prescription of the rules of the State of Andhra Pradesh treating Graduate Engineers	 on the one hand	 and engineers with diploma or equivalent qualification	 on the other	 differently for purposes of promotion arose for consideration. Strictly speaking	 the High Court was not right in its under standing of the actual result of the PG NO 265 ease. The High Court	 in para 8 of the judgment observed: "The Supreme Court had then struck down this rule as violative of fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. " But it is to be noticed that the writ petitions were ultimately dismissed by this Court. There are	 of course	 certain observations which caution against too readily resorting to the expedience of classification. After referring to Triloki Nath Khosa 's ease it was observed: ". .But from these decisions it cannot be laid down as an invariable rule that whenever any classification is made on the basis of variant educational qualification. 	 such classification must be held to be valid irrespective of the nature and purpose of the classification or the quality and extent of the differences in the educational qualifications. It must be remembered that "life has relations not capable always of division into inflexible compartments". The moulds expand and shrink. The test of reasonable classification has to be applied in each ease on its peculiar facts and circumstances . . " (Emphasis Supplied) This echoes what Vivian Bose	 J. had earlier said in Bidi 	Supply Co. vs Union of lndia ; "Article 14 sets out	 to my mind	 an attitude of mind	a way of life. rather than a precise rule of law . ". .In a given case that it falls this side of the line or that and because of that decisions on the same point will vary as conditions vary	 one conclusion in one part of the country and another somewhere else; one decision today and another tomorrow when the basis of society has altered and the structure of current social thinking is different. It is not the law that alters but the changing conditions of the times and Article t4 narrows down to a question of fact which must be determined by the highest Judges in the land as each ease arises. ." Shujat Ali 's ease itself recognised the permissibility and validity of such classification if the nature of the PG NO 266 functions and duties attached to the promotional posts are such as to justify the classification in the interest of efficiency in public service; but	 where both graduates and non graduates were regarded as equally fit and eligible for promotion	the denial of promotion to a person otherwise eligible and due for promotion on the basis of a quota was not justified. On this point it was observed by this Court in Shujat Ali 's case: ". .But where graduates and non graduates are both regarded as fit and	 therefore	 eligible for promotion	it is difficult to see how	 consistently	 with the claim for equal opportunity	 any differentiation can be made between them by laying down a quota of promotion for each and giving preferential treatment to graduates over non graduates in the matter of fixation of such quota. The result of fixation of quota of promotion for each of the two categories of supervisors would be that when a vacancy	 arises in the post of Asst. Engineer	 which	 according to the quota is reserved for graduate supervisors	 a non graduate supervisor cannot be promoted to that vacancy	 even if he is senior to all other graduate supervisors and more suitable than they. His opportunity for promotion would be limited only to vacancies available for non graduate supervisors. That would clearly amount to denial of equal opportunity to him In the present appeals before us	 the Graduates and Diploma Holders were not treated equal in the mattes of eligibility for promotion. What is	 therefore	 assailed is not the aspect of the mere fixation of a quota as between the Diploma Holders and the Graduates in the promotional posts	 but the very prescription of different standards or conditions of eligibility. In Shujat Ali 's case the infirmity of the differential treatment stemmed from the fundamental basis that	 at that point	 both Graduates and Diploma holders were equally eligible but the Rule operated to deny promotion to a Diploma holder on the basis of a quota. The observations in that case pertained to a stage which arose after the equality of eligibility for promotion between the two classes of persons had been recognised. But in the present appeals the different prescriptions for conditioning eligibility are themselves questioned which need to be decided on the basis whether the discrimination contemplated and brought about in the matter of promotional opportunities between graduates and non graduates	 based on the differences in the quality of their technical qualifications	 were relatable to	 and justified on the PG NO 267 basis of	 the requirements of the promotional posts. It is relevant to mention here that the different standards and Conditions for eligibility were prescribed with a view to injecting a higher technical quality in the promotions cadre based on the recommendations of a committee	 called "Vaish Committee"	 constituted for the purpose. H.C. Sharma 's and Punjab State Electricity Board 's cases were also matters where Graduates and Diploma holders were merged into and formed part of a homogenious cadre with equal eligibility for promotion and what fell for consideration was the validity of the further prescription of quotas between them. Here again	 no question of the validity of the different standards prescribed for the very eligibility for promotion fell for consideration. The present cases	 however	 are those where	 havig regard to the requirements of the promotional posts	 different conditions of eligibility for promotion on the differences based on the educational qualifications and service experience were prescribed. In State of Mysore vs Narasinga Rao	[1968] 1 SCR 40 1 higher educational qualifications were considered relevant for fixation of higher pay scales. In Union of India vs Mrs. S.B. Kohli	 the requirement of a post graduate specialisation in the particular discipline was considered not irrelevant and a classification based on such specialisation was upheld. Triloki Nath Khosa 's case is more directly in point. There	 Graduate Engineers and Diploma Holders were in a common cadre of Asst. Engineers. But for purposes of further promotion to the higher cadre of Executive Engineers only the Graduate were held eligible. Diploma Holders were barred for promotion. Repelling the challenge to this provision made by the Diploma Holders	 this Court said: "The classification of Assistant Engineers into Degree holders and Diploma holders could not be held to rest on any unreal or unreasonable basis. The classification was made with a view to achieving administrative efficiency in the Engineering services. If this be the object	 the classification is clearly correlated to it for higher educational qualifications are at least presumption evidence of a higher mental equipment." "Classification on the basis of educational qualifictions made with a view to achieving administrative PG NO 268 efficiency cannot be said to rest on any fortuitous circumstances and one has always to bear in mind the facts and circumstances of the case in order to judge the validity of a classification." "Though persons appointed directly and by promotion were integrated into a common class of Assistant Engineers	 they could	 for purposes of promotion to then cadre of Executive Engineers	 be classified on the basis of educational qualifications the rule providing that graduates shall be eligible for such promotion to the exclusion of diploma holders does not violate Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution and must be upheld. " (Emphasis Supplied) In Triloki Nath 's case diploma holders were not considered eligible for promotion to the higher post. Here	 in the present case	 the possession of a diploma	 by itself and without more	 does not confer eligibility. Diploma	 for purposes of promotion	 is not considered equivalent to the degree. This is the point of distinction in the situations in the two cases. If Diploma Holders of course on the justification of the job requirements and in the interest of maintaining a certain quality of technical expertise in the cadre could validly be excluded from the eligibility for promotion to the higher cadre	 it does not necessarily follow as an inevitable corollary that the choice of the recruitment policy is limited only two choices	 namely either to consider them "eligible" or "not eligible". State	 consistent with the requirements of the promotional posts and in the interest of the efficiency of the service	 is not precluded from conferring eligibility on Diploma Holders conditioning it by other requirements which may	 as here	 include certain quantum of service experience. In the present case	 eligibility determination was made by a cumulative criterion of a certain educational qualification plus a particular quantum of service experience. It cannot	 in our opinion	 be said	 as postulated by the High Court	 that the choice of the State was either to recognise Diploma Holders as "eligible" for promotion or wholly exclude them as "not eligible". If the educational qualification by itself was recognised as conferring eligibility for promotion	 then	 the super imposition of further conditions such as a particular period of service	 selectively	 on the Diploma Holders alone to their disadvantage might become discriminatory. This does not prevent the State from formulating a policy which prescribes as an essential part of the conditions for the vary eligibility that the candidate must have a particular qualification plus a stipulated quantum of service PG NO 269 experience. It is stated that on the basis of the "Vaish Committee" report	 the authorities considered the infusion of higher academic and technical quality in the personnel requirements in the relevant cadres of Engineering Services necessary. These are essentially matters of policy. Unless the provision is shown to be arbitrary	 capricious	 or to bring about grossly unfair results	 judicial policy should be one of judicial restraint. The prescriptions may be somewhat cumbersome or produce some hardship in their application in some individual cases; but they can not be struck down as unreasonable	 capricious or arbitrary. The High Court	 in our opinion	 was not justified in striking down the Rules as violative of Articles 14 and 16. Accordingly	 all the Appeals are allowed	 the Judgment of the High Court dated 2.9.1987 set aside and the Civil Writ Petitions No. 2 132 of 1984 and 2082 of 1984 in the High Court dismissed. However	 the parties are left to bear and pay their costs	 both here and below. A.P.J . Appeals allowed.

The Rules of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) adopted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) stipulate and provide that 50% of the posts of Assistant Engineers in DDA be filed up by promotion from the cadre of Junior Engineers comprising of both Graduates in Engineering and Diploma Holders in Engineering in the equal ratio (50%:50%) of the promotional posts. Half of it	 i.e. 25% were to be filled up by promotion of Graduate Junior Engineers with three years ' service experience as Junior Engineers; the other 25% to be filled up from Diploma Holder. Junior Engineers. who had X years service experience as Junior Engineers. The Rules further provide that the Executive Engineers ' post in DDA were purely promotional and Graduate Assistant Engineers with 8 years ' service experience and Diploma Holder Assistant Engineers with 10 years ' service experience were eligible for promotion. No inter se quota between the two class of officers; was prescribed. The Diploma Holders in the Cadres of .junior Engineers and Assistant Engineers filed separate writ petitions in the High Court assailing the constitutional validity of the prescriptions made by the rules in the matter of requirement of differential service experiences between the Graduates and the Diploma Holders for promotion to the higher caders of Assistant Engineers and Executive Engineers respectively. They also assailed the promotion of Graduate Engineers to the higher cadres made on the strength of the Rules. PG NO 253 PG NO 254 The High Court allowed the writ petitions and declared the different standards of service experience prescribed for Degree Holders and Diploma Holders in respect of both the cadres as violative of Articles 1 1 and 16 of the Constitution. In the appeal to this Court	 on behalf of appellants it was contended; (l) that the view taken by the High Court is demonstrably erroneous and opposed to well settled principles; (2) that the High Court took an erroneous view that in Shujat Ali 's case ; this Court struck down the service rule impugned in that case; (3) that the fundamental distinction between Triloki Nath Khosa 's	 case ; and Shujat Ali 's case was lost sight of by the High Court;(4) that the present case was not one in which the Diploma Holders	 proprio vigore and without more	 were held eligible for promotion. The educational qualification of a Diploma in engineering was not treated as equivalent to a Degree for purposes of determining eligibility. Nor the Degree itself was determinative of eligibility for promotion. The eligibility of promotion is based on a combination of factors which vary according to the basic educational qualification of the two classes of engineers; (5) that this distinction was germane to the requirements of higher technical and academic quality for the higher posts which involved expertise in structural design. and (6) that even where recruitment to a particular cadre was made from different sources	resulting in the formation of a single homogeneous cadre it was not impermissible to make a further classification amongst the members of such a cadre for purposes of further promotion based on the higher educational qualification of the candidates. On behalf of the respondent Diploma Holders it was contended(1) that this Court had	 more than once. cautioned against undue accent	 in the matter of promotional opportunities	 on academic qualification alone which might lead to elitist perferences and tend to obscure the egalitarian principle and social justice; (2) that the effect of the distinction is really an imperceptible extension or magnification of insubstantial factors subverting the precious guarantee of equality and(3) that to discriminate between Diploma Holders and Graduates who belong to the same cadre and hold inter changeable posts	 both in the present cadre and in the prospective promotional posts	 on the mere lack of some higher academic attainment is to place a high premium on these social and economic pursuits for the economically disadvantaged difficult. Allowing the Appeals	 PG NO 255 HELD: l. The inherent distinction between a person with a Degree and one who is merely a Diploma Holder is much too obvious. But the question for consideration	 in the present context	 is whether the differences have a reasonable relation to the nature of the office to which the promotion is contemplated. The idea of equality in the matter of promotion can be predicated only when the candidates for promotion are drawn from the same source. If the differences in the qualification has a reasonable relation to the nature of duties and responsibilities. that go with and are attendant upon the promotional post	 the more advantageous treatment of those who possess higher technical qualifications can be legitimised on the doctrine of classification. There may	conceivably	 be cases where the differences in the educational qualifications may not be sufficient to give any preferential treatment to one class of candidates as against another. Whether the classification is reasonable or not must	 therefore	 necessarily depend upon facts of each case and the circumstances obtaining at the relevant time. When the State makes a classification between two sources	 unless the vice of the classification is writ large on the face of it	 the person assailing the classification must show that it is unreasonable and violative of Article 14. [263A C ] 2. A wooden equality as between all classes of employees irrespective of all distinction or qualifications	 or job requirements is neither constitutionally compelled nor practically meaningful. [263D] The process of classification is in itself productive of inequality and in that sense antithetical of equality. The process would be constitutionally valid if it recognises a pre existing inequality and acts in aid of amelioration of the effects of such pre existent inequality. The the process cannot merely blow up or magnify in substantial or microscopic differences on merely meretricious or plausible. The over emphasis on the doctrine of classification or any anxious and sustained attempts to discover some basis for classification may gradually and imperceptibly deprive the article of its precious content and end in re placing doctrine of equality by the doctrine of the classification.[264C D] 4. The presumption of good faith in and of constitutionality of a classification cannot be pushed to the point of predicating some possible or hypothetical but undisclosed and unknown reason for a classification rendering the precious guarantee of equality "a mere rope of sand". [264E] PG NO 256 Central Railway vs A.V.R. sidhanti; 	 at 214 and T.Devadasan V. The Union of India	 [1964] 4 SCR at 689 & 690 followed. 5."To overdo classification is to undo equality". The idea of similarity or dissimilarity of situations of persons to justify classification	 cannot rest on merely differentia which may	 by themselves rational or logical	 but depends on whether the differences are relevant to the goals sought to be reached by the law which seeks to classify. The justification of the classification must	 therefore	 be sought beyond the classification. All marks of distinction do not necessarily justify classification irrespective of the relevance or nexus to objects sought to be achieved by the law imposing the classification. [264F G] State of Jammu & Kashmir vs Triloki Nath Khosa & Ors.	[1974] I SCR 771; Bidi Suppy Co.v. Union of India; 	 	 relied no; Mohammad shujat Ali vs UOI and others	 [1975]1 SCR 449; H.C. Sharma and Ors. vs Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Ors.	 [1983]3 SCR 372 and Punjab State Electricity Board	 Patiala	 and Anr.v. Ravinder Kumar Sharma & Ors. 	[1986] 4 SCC 617 distinguished; State of Mysore vs Narasinga Rao	 ; and Union of India vs Mrs. S.B. Kohli	 [1973]3 SCR 117	 referred to. In the present case	 the possession of a diploma. by itself and without more	 does not confer eligibility. Diploma	 for purposes of promotion	 is not considered equivalent to the degree. [268d] 7.If the educational qualification by itself was recognised as confering eligibility for promotion	 then the super imposition of further conditions such as a particular period of service	 selectively	 on the Diploma Holders alone to their disadvantage might become discriminatory. This does not prevent the State from formulating a policy which prescribes as an essential part of the conditions for the very eligibility that the candidate must have a particular qualification plus a stipulated quantum of service experience.[268G H;269A]