M. NIRMALA & ORS. vs STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the seniority of temporary employees in Group IV Services, appointed after April 1974, cannot be computed from their respective appointment dates. The Court emphasized that these employees were appointed on a stop-gap basis and failed to qualify for regular appointments by not appearing in the 1976 qualifying test. The Government Order GOMS No. 647 dated September 14, 1979 does not support their claim for seniority based on appointment dates, as it stipulates regularization from the date of last regular appointment or temporary appointment, whichever is later.