SHEIKH ABDUL RASHID vs STATE OF J&K .

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of seniority between the appellants and private respondents in the context of promotions within the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The Court held that the retrospective promotion of the private respondents from 25.04.1978 was illegal, as they were not formally promoted to the post of Sub-Inspector. The Court affirmed the High Court's decision that the appellants, appointed as Sub-Inspectors on 25.04.1979, should be considered senior to the respondents, thereby upholding the principle that formal promotion is necessary for seniority claims under service law.