UNION OF INDIA vs SHRIPATI NARAIN DUBEY

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of seniority assignment in the Indian Administrative Service, specifically for Shripati Narain Dubey, who contested the year of allotment assigned to him. The Court held that the determination of the year of allotment under Rule 3(3)(c) of the Indian Administrative Service (Regulation of Seniority) Rules, 1954, was valid, as it was based on the comparative length of service with respect to other officers. The Court upheld the Tribunal's decision to fix 1971 as the year of allotment, thereby allowing the respondent's appeal against the earlier determination of 1977.