C.K. ANTONY vs B. MURALEEDHARAN

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of seniority between direct recruits and promotees in the Kerala Forest Service, specifically for the position of Assistant Conservator of Forests. The Court held that seniority must be determined based on the date of regular appointment as per the Kerala Forest Service Special Rules, particularly Rule 2 and Rule 8. The Court concluded that the promotees' claims of prior appointments before 1.5.78 were not valid for seniority purposes, affirming the seniority of the directly recruited Assistant Conservators appointed on or after that date.