In Brief
Two cardiac surgeons at AIIMS challenged the seniority ranking that placed a fourth colleague senior to them, arguing their selection on the same date warranted parity. They relied on a 1997 policy requiring seniority to be fixed by merit grades from the Selection Committee. The Court upheld the Fourth respondent's senior ranking, noting the Selection Committee had discretion beyond mere mechanical grade totalling, considering overall candidate merit, records, and institutional interests. The Court also rejected the petition on grounds of delay—over 12 years had passed since the 2005 selection with consistent administrative affirmation; reopening seniority now would unsettle long-established arrangements unjustly. Petition dismissed.
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