Arvinder Singh Bains vs State Of Punjab & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of seniority among Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officers, interpreting Rule 21 in conjunction with Rule 18 of the 1976 Rules. The Court held that the delay in appointing direct recruits should not adversely affect their seniority compared to promotees, affirming that seniority must be determined based on the order of appointment as per the rules. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the High Court's decision regarding the final seniority list prepared in 1994.