In Brief
Direct recruits appointed as District Judges challenged the High Court's order altering their seniority relative to judges promoted through a Limited Competitive Examination (LCE). The Supreme Court held that the High Court's delay in amending the seniority rule, justified only by a pending SLP, was not justified. However, in the absence of specific rules governing inter-se seniority, using the date of appointment as the criterion was valid. The newer 2017 Rules introducing a roster-based system apply only prospectively. The petitioners could not claim retrospective benefit. The petitions were dismissed."
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