Z. Ajeesudeen vs Union Of India & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the seniority of an employee appointed on an adhoc basis cannot be counted from the date of such appointment if it was not made according to the prescribed rules for regular appointments. Citing the case of M.K. Shanmugam Vs. Union of India, (2004) 4 SCC 476, the Court clarified that only those adhoc appointments made through the same process as regular appointments can have their service counted for seniority. The appeal was dismissed as the appellant's initial appointment was purely adhoc and not in accordance with the rules.