In Brief
The Supreme Court resolved a seniority dispute among 35 officers of the Punjab Superior Judicial Service recruited in 2008 from three different streams: 50% by merit-cum-seniority promotion, 25% by limited competitive examination, and 25% by direct recruitment. The High Court had placed 15 promotees at the bottom of the seniority list, treating their promotions as "ad hoc" and beyond quota. The Court held that the promotions were within quota when calculated prospectively from the 2004 rule amendments, and that the roster system prescribed in the 2007 Rules applies to determine inter se seniority regardless of joining dates. Officers selected in the same recruitment year retain their seniority positions according to the roster, minimizing disputes as intended by Supreme Court precedent.
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