In Brief
This appeal challenges the inter-se seniority between direct recruits and promotees in the Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE). The Supreme Court held that Railways are not bound by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) circulars and can frame their own rules, with the Indian Railways Establishment Manual (IREM) having statutory force under Article 309 of the Constitution. The Court found that the direct recruit's challenge was limited to the date from which seniority should commence, not to the rule granting 5 years weightage to promotees. The Court upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's order dismissing a contempt petition and confirmed that the Railways' amendment introducing 'year of allotment' (replacing the controversial DITS method) complied with the tribunal's directive. Appeal dismissed.
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