In Brief
This case concerns inter-se seniority between direct recruits and promotees in the Manipur Police Service Grade II Cadre. Promotees were appointed on 1 March 2007, while direct recruits were appointed on 14 August 2007 and 24 November 2007, although vacancies for direct recruitment existed since 2005. The Court held that seniority is determined by the order of appointment to service under Rule 28(i) of the MPS Rules, 1965, not from the date when vacancies arose. Consequently, promotees who entered the cadre first have seniority over later-appointed direct recruits. The Court overruled N.R. Parmar v. Union of India insofar as it suggested seniority could be counted from vacancy initiation. The High Court's judgment upholding promotees' seniority was affirmed, and the State was directed to prepare a revised seniority list accordingly.
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