STATE BANK OF INDIA & ORS. vs YOGENDRA KUMAR SRIVASTAVA & ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the interpretation of 'existing officers' under the Bank's Order, specifically paragraph 3(h), which defined 'existing officers' as those in service as of October 1, 1979. The Court held that Probationary/Trainee Officers appointed after this date could not be classified as 'existing officers' for seniority purposes, affirming the Delhi High Court's dismissal of their claims. The Court emphasized that the retrospective application of the Order was not authorized under Section 43 of the relevant Act, thereby upholding the principle that seniority must be determined based on the defined criteria of the Order.