The case began with a public interest civil writ petition filed before the Supreme Court of India and was decided in October 2013.

[3] According to Indian Forest Service Association president A. R. Chadha, the ruling would check arbitrary transfers and suspensions.

[3] A Bharatiya Janata Party secretary-general, Dharmendra Pradhan, said that it would "help bring greater transparency in [sic] the system".

[3] An Indian National Congress spokesperson, P. C. Chacko, disagreed: "[t]o discharge the responsibilities of the executive effectively, the power of transfer and posting of the officials should be with the government.

[3] The president of the Centre for Policy Research tweeted, "[o]n the face of it, supreme court is continuing its constitutional usurpation; and many orders are practically unworkable".