As per the case facts the case revolved around employee promotions at a university A Single Judge ruled that statutory rules should take precedence over principles like estoppel and acquiescence ... However a Division Bench while acknowledging rule violations overturned the Single Judge's decision by applying these principles The question arose whether the principle of estoppel and acquiescence would take precedence over statutory service rules that outline the procedure for employee promotions within the University Finally the Supreme Court allowed the appeals setting aside the Division Bench's judgment and restoring the Single Judge's decision The Supreme Court decisively ruled that statutory service rules for promotion must be strictly followed and the principles of estoppel and acquiescence cannot override these statutory regulations even if there were procedural violations