AJIT KUMAR RATH vs STATE OF ORISSA .

The Supreme Court ruled that under Rule 26 of the Orissa Service of Engineer Rules, 1941, promotee officers who are promoted in the same calendar year as direct recruits must rank senior to those direct recruits. The Court upheld the Orissa Administrative Tribunal's decision that the appellant, promoted as Assistant Engineer in 1972, should be considered senior to the direct recruits appointed in the same year. The Court directed the State of Orissa to amend the seniority list accordingly, thereby restoring the appellant's seniority and eligibility for promotion.