SURESH CHANDRA JHA vs STATE OF BIHAR .

The Supreme Court held that the determination of seniority in the context of appointments under the Bihar Private Engineering College Control Act 1990 must be based on merit rather than the date of joining, as no specific rules were established for seniority. The Court overturned the Division Bench's ruling that favored the earlier joiner, emphasizing that the merit list should govern seniority in the absence of rules. The Court reinstated the Single Judge's decision, thereby quashing the notification that contradicted this principle.