HARKISHAN SINGH vs STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS

The Supreme Court ruled that under the Punjab Civil Medical Service Class I (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, specifically rules 2(c), 5, and 9(3), direct recruitment to the Selection Grade is permissible and encompasses both promotion and direct appointment. The Court held that the second respondent's earlier recruitment to the Chief Medical Officer position established his seniority over the appellant and third respondent, as there were no specific rules for seniority fixation in the Selection Grade for direct appointees. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, affirming the second respondent's seniority.