2001 JTR(SC) 1051
2001 AIR(SC) 3194 ; 2001 AIR(SCW) 2888 ; 2001 3 CLR 277 ; 2001 90 FLR 1027 ; 2001 3 JCR(SC) 137 ; 2001 2 JLJR(SC) 762 ; 2001 6 JT 302 ; 2001 LIC 2856 ; 2001 4 LLN 12 ; 2008 1 RSJ 33 ; 2001 5 Scale 111 ; 2001 6 SCC 292 ; 2001 SCC(L&S) 955 ; 2001 SCR 351 ; 2001 3 SCT 1061 ; 2001 3 SLR 700 ; 2001 5 SLT 699 ; 2001 KHC 1137 ; 2001 6 Supreme 12
2001(6) Supreme 12
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
(From Kerala High Court)
Syed Shah Mohammed Quadri and S.N. Phukan, JJ.
K.A. Abdul Majeed -Appellant
versus
The State of Kerala & Ors. -Respondents
Civil Appeal No. 5122 of 2001
(Arising out of SLP (C) No. 7685 of 2000)
Decided on 7-8-2001
Counsel for the Parties :
For the Appellant : D.A. Dave, Sr. Advocate, Haris Beeran and A. Raghunath, Advocates.
For the Respondents : T.L.V. Iyer, K. Sukumaran, Sr. Advocates, T.G. Narayanan Nair, B.V. Deepak, Ms. Karthika, S., N.R. Shonker and G. Prakash, Advocates.
IMPORTANT POINT
Where appellant had requisite qualifications as per GCDA advertisement and duly appointed but 7 years after KPS Commission found it irregular as qualifications were not as per its requirements, it is not legal to re-open question of initial appointment on such a plea after lapse of such a long time.
Act
Referred
:CONSTITUTION OF INDIA : Art.227, Art.136
KERALA STATE AND SUBORDINATE SERVICES RULES : R.27
KERALA SUBORDINATE SERVICES RULES : R.27
(A) The relevant statutory framework includes the Constitution of India, Articles 227 and 136, read alongside Kerala Subordinate Services Rules, Rule 27 and Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, Rule 27. These provisions govern the jurisdiction of High Courts via Article 227 and Article 136 appeals, while Rule 27 provides the authoritative methodology for determining seniority of service, ensuring that appointments and consequential re-fixation of seniority adhere to constitutional standards of fairness and procedural legitimacy in public employment matters.
(B) Key legal principles include that seniority is determined by the date of the first valid appointment to the service, unless reduced in rank as punishment, and that any portion of service not counting towards probation is excluded. The case underscores that initial appointment irregularities cannot be revisited at a later stage to disturb settled seniority once probation is completed, and that private party respondents who joined later cannot claim superior seniority over an employee appointed earlier.
Facts of the case:
The appellant was appointed as a Lower Division Typist by the Greater Cochin Development Authority following an advertisement and a selection process. After successful probation, he was promoted to Upper Division Typist. Subsequently, other respondents joined the same service. A provisional seniority list published initially showed the appellant at the top, but a final impugned list reversed this, placing him junior to others. The respondents contested his seniority on the ground that his initial appointment was irregular due to alleged lack of requisite qualifications and improper authority, leading to dismissal of his petition, which prompted this appeal.
Findings of Court:
The court held that the appellant was duly selected and appointed after the advertisement, completed probation successfully, and received promotion. The court rejected the contention that the initial appointment was irregular after such a long period and held that the question of appointment validity cannot be reopened to alter seniority. It also rejected the claim that the appointment was through a back door. The court found that Rule 27 clearly mandates seniority based on the date of the first appointment, and since the appellant was never reduced in rank and no evidence showed any part of his service was excluded from probation, the re-fixation by the authority was contrary to law.
Issues:
Whether the appellant could be denied seniority based on alleged irregularities in his initial appointment after he had completed probation and served for a long period. Whether private respondents who joined later could claim seniority over the appellant. Whether the fixing of seniority by the authority was in accordance with Rule 27 of the Kerala Subordinate Services Rules.
Ratio Decidendi:
Seniority under Rule 27 is determined by the date of the first appointment to the service, provided the employee has not been reduced in rank and all of his service counts towards probation. Once probation is completed and promotions follow, long-pstanding irregularities in the initial appointment cannot be invoked at a later stage to disturb the settled order of seniority, and appointments through a transparent selection process preclude allegations of irregularity.
Result:
The appeal is allowed. The impugned seniority list is quashed, and the respondent authority is directed to publish a fresh seniority list showing the appellant senior to the private respondents, with costs to be borne by the respective parties.
(A) The relevant statutory framework includes the Constitution of India, Articles 227 and 136, read alongside Kerala Subordinate Services Rules, Rule 27 and Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, Rule 27. These provisions govern the jurisdiction of High Courts via Article 227 and Article 136 appeals, while Rule 27 provides the authoritative methodology for determining seniority of service, ensuring that appointments and consequential re-fixation of seniority adhere to constitutional standards of fairness and procedural legitimacy in public employment matters.
(B) Key legal principles include that seniority is determined by the date of the first valid appointment to the service, unless reduced in rank as punishment, and that any portion of service not counting towards probation is excluded. The case underscores that initial appointment irregularities cannot be revisited at a later stage to disturb settled seniority once probation is completed, and that private party respondents who joined later cannot claim superior seniority over an employee appointed earlier.
Facts of the case:
The appellant was appointed as a Lower Division Typist by the Greater Cochin Development Authority following an advertisement and a selection process. After successful probation, he was promoted to Upper Division Typist. Subsequently, other respondents joined the same service. A provisional seniority list published initially showed the appellant at the top, but a final impugned list reversed this, placing him junior to others. The respondents contested his seniority on the ground that his initial appointment was irregular due to alleged lack of requisite qualifications and improper authority, leading to dismissal of his petition, which prompted this appeal.
Findings of Court:
The court held that the appellant was duly selected and appointed after the advertisement, completed probation successfully, and received promotion. The court rejected the contention that the initial appointment was irregular after such a long period and held that the question of appointment validity cannot be reopened to alter seniority. It also rejected the claim that the appointment was through a back door. The court found that Rule 27 clearly mandates seniority based on the date of the first appointment, and since the appellant was never reduced in rank and no evidence showed any part of his service was excluded from probation, the re-fixation by the authority was contrary to law.
Issues:
Whether the appellant could be denied seniority based on alleged irregularities in his initial appointment after he had completed probation and served for a long period. Whether private respondents who joined later could claim seniority over the appellant. Whether the fixing of seniority by the authority was in accordance with Rule 27 of the Kerala Subordinate Services Rules.
Ratio Decidendi:
Seniority under Rule 27 is determined by the date of the first appointment to the service, provided the employee has not been reduced in rank and all of his service counts towards probation. Once probation is completed and promotions follow, long-pstanding irregularities in the initial appointment cannot be invoked at a later stage to disturb the settled order of seniority, and appointments through a transparent selection process preclude allegations of irregularity.
Result:
The appeal is allowed. The impugned seniority list is quashed, and the respondent authority is directed to publish a fresh seniority list showing the appellant senior to the private respondents, with costs to be borne by the respective parties.
JUDGMENT
Phukan, J.-Leave is granted.
2. This appeal by special leave is against the judgment of the Division Bench of the High Court of Kerala in Writ Appeal No. 1308 of 1998. The writ petition filed by the appellant was dismissed by the learned Single Judge, which was affirmed in appeal.
3. The following facts are not disputed. On 16.2.1981, an advertisement was issued by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (for short the GCDA ), respondent No. 3 calling for applications from the last Grade Servants of the GCDA for the post of Lower Division Typist. The appellant, who fulfilled the qualifications specified in the advertisement, was appointed on 27.03.1981 after proper selection. Subsequently, he completed the period of probation satisfactorily in the said post. On 2.7.1983, the appellant was promoted to the post of Upper Division Typist and was placed on probation for two years. He completed satisfactorily the said period of probation also. Respondent Nos. 4, 5 and 6 were appointed as Lower Division Typist on 20.9.1984, 23.2.1985 and 15.7.1985 respectively. On 1.1.1987 a provisional seniority list was published in which the appellant was placed on the top of the list whereas respondent No. 4 was placed at position No.2 in the said list. Respondent No.4 filed a representation claiming seniority over respondent No.1 on the ground that appointment of appellant as Lower Division Typist was illegal, as on the date of his appointment he was not qualified for the post. On 7.1.1988 impugned final seniority list was published by the respondent No.3, wherein appellant was shown junior to respondent Nos. 4, 5 & 6. This list was challenged by the appellant by filing a Writ Petition which was dismissed and so also the writ appeal. That is how the parties are before us in this appeal.
4. The writ petition was resisted by respondents on the ground that when the appellant was appointed to the post of Lower Division Typist on 27.3.1981, he did not possess requisite qualifications for the post and the GCDA was not the appointing authority, as the power of appointment for the posts under the GCDA was brought within the purview of the Kerala Public Service Commission (for short the Commission ) by an Act of the State Legislature. Though, the appellant was shown to have been appointed under the Greater Cochin Development Authority (Establishment) By-laws, 1977, those were only draft Bye-laws framed under Section 53(2) of the Town Planning Act (IV of 1108) and Section 54(2) of the Madras Town Planning Act, 1920 and were not approved by the State Government as required under the above two Acts. As the Commission was the appointing authority, the GCDA requested concurrence of the Commission for the appointment of the appellant but it was refused. Subsequently, appellant was given time to obtain the requisite qualification which he did and again the matter was taken up with the Commission. The Commission gave concurrence for the appointment of appellant from the date of acquiring the requisite qualification i.e. 21.4.1990 and accordingly his seniority was fixed with effect from that date and the draft seniority list was revised.
5. Mr. Dave, learned senior counsel for the appellant has urged that the appellant had the requisite qualifications as per the advertisement and accordingly applied, thereafter he was duly appointed after selection. On these facts, the learned senior counsel has submitted that after more than 7 years of his appointment, respondents cannot turn around and take the plea that the appointment was irregular. In support of this contention, the learned senior counsel has drawn our attention to the facts that the appellant not only successfully completed his period of probation as Lower Division Typist but subsequently he was also promoted to the higher post in which also he completed the period of probation. In any event according to the learned senior counsel the private respondents 4 to 6 who were appointed subsequently have no legal right to question the initial appointment of the appellant and being junior in terms of period of service they cannot claim seniority over the appellant.
6. Mr. Iyer, learned senior counsel for the GCDA, has contended that as initial appointment of the appellant to the post was irregular, he cannot claim seniority from the said date of appointment and that his seniority was correctly fixed by the GCDA in consultation with the Commission from the date the appellant acquired the necessary qualification.
7. Mr. Sukumaran learned senior counsel appearing for the private respondents 4 to 6 has urged that the appointment of the appellant was through back door whereas the private respondents were appointed through Public Service Commission and, therefore, the appellant cannot get seniority over the private respondents.
8. It is an admitted position that the post was advertised by the GCDA and the appellant possessed all the qualifications as shown in the advertisement. He was duly selected and appointed. He successfully completed his period of probation. He was given one promotion to the next higher grade and his probation was declared promoted post of Upper Division Typist. In view of these admitted facts we find force in the submission of Mr. Dave that after long lapse of time the question of initial appointment cannot be re-opened at the instance of private respondents and that too for altering his seniority. Therefore, the contention of Mr. lyer, learned senior counsel, has to be rejected.
9. As the appellant was appointed after the post was advertised and he was duly selected before appointment it cannot be said that the appointment of the appellant was through back door and therefore we reject the contention of Mr. Sukumaran, learned senior counsel.
10. Mr. lyer, learned senior counsel has very fairly submitted that there is no rule regarding seniority of the employees of the GCDA, the Kerala and Subordinate Services Rules, 1958 would apply and seniority has to be fixed in terms of Rule 27. The relevant portion of Rule is extracted below:
"Seniority-(a) Seniority of a person in a service, class, category or grade shall, unless he has been reduced to a lower rank as punishment, be determined by the date of the order of his first appointment, to such service, class, category or grade. If any portion of the service of such person does not count towards probation under the Rules, his seniority shall be determined by the date of commencement of his service which counts towards probation."
11. The language of above Rule 27 is clear and unambiguous. The seniority of an employee has to be determined by the date of the order of the first appointment in the service unless he has been reduced to lower rank as punishment or any portion of his service would not be counted towards probation. Admittedly, the appellant was never reduced to the lower rank. It was neither pleaded nor any records were placed to show that any portion of the service of the appellant could not be counted towards probation. Indeed in the post of Lower Division Typist as well as Upper Division Typist, his probation was declared based on his initial appointment and subsequent promotions respectively. The question whether initial appointment was regular or not cannot be considered at the time of fixation of seniority under this Rule. As the re-fixation of seniority by GCDA by the impugned seniority list is not in accordance with Rule 27, referred to above, it is, therefore, bad in law and consequently the impugned seniority list is liable to be quashed.
12. For the reasons stated above we find merit in the present appeal and accordingly it is allowed by setting aside the judgment of the learned Single Judge as well as the Division Bench of the High Court. Consequently, the impugned seniority list is quashed and respondent No. 3 is directed to prepare and publish a fresh seniority list showing appellant senior to private respondents 4 to 6 on the basis of provisional seniority list of 1.1.1987. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case we direct the parties to bear their own cost.
(N.K.R.) Appeal allowed accordingly.
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