TEJINDER SINGH SANDHU vs STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision that respondents 2 and 3 were entitled to promotion as Joint Directors of Agriculture based on their seniority in the Punjab Agricultural Service. The Court clarified that seniority in Class II prevails when multiple officers are appointed to Class I on an ad hoc basis and have completed their probation. The Court emphasized that the seniority must be determined according to the Punjab Agricultural Service Class I Rules, 1947, specifically Rule 16, which states that seniority is based on the date of confirmation in service, thus affirming the lower ranking of the appellant.