IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NOS.7360-7361 OF 2002

P. Satyanarayana Rao & Anr. ...Appellant(s)

Versus

S.V.P. Sarvani & Ors. ...Respondent(s)

WITH CIVIL APPEALS NOS.7359/2002 & 2548-2549/2004

O R D E R

In Civil Appeal Nos.7360-7361/2002:

Heard counsel for the parties and perused the record.   

The dispute in this case is about the inter-se seniority between the parties.

It  may be noted that the post of  Junior Assistant in the subordinate office in the

Commercial  Taxes  Department  is  a  Category-11  post  under  the  A.P.  Ministerial

Service Rules and the minimum qualification for appointment on the said post is

Intermediate.  On the other hand, the post of Junior Assistant in the office of the

Head of the Department is a Category-10 post and the minimum qualification there is

Graduation.

Rule 27(1)(iii) of the aforesaid Rules states:

“The seniority of a member of the service who is transferred at his own request from one Department or office to another shall be fixed in the latter department or office with reference to the date of his first appointment in the latter department or office...”

...2/-

-2-

Learned  counsel  for  the  appellant  submitted  that  the  appellant  was

transferred from the subordinate office to the office of Head of the Department not at

his  request  but  on  his  making  an  application.   We  regret  we  cannot  see  any

difference.   When  a  person  makes  an  application  for  transfer,  it  is  obviously  a

transfer at his own request.  Hence, in our opinion, Rule 27(1)(iii) squarely applies.

In this case, the appellant got transferred from the subordinate office to the office of

the Head of Department at his own request.  If he did not wish to forego his service in

the subordinate service, he need not have made any such request and would have

remained in the subordinate office.  Once he makes a request for transfer to the office

of the Head of Department, then, he must undergo the consequences of such transfer

and he cannot claim that his service in the subordinate  office must be added to his

service in the office of the Head of Department for the purpose of seniority.  He will

be deemed to have been given a fresh appointment on his joining in the office of the

Head of Department for the purposes of seniority, in view of Rule 27(1)(iii) of the

Rules.  Thus, in our opinion, there is no error in the impugned judgment of the High

Court.   

Civil Appeals are, accordingly, dismissed, with no order as to costs.

   ...3/-

-3-

In Civil Appeals Nos.7359/2002 & 2548-2549/2004:

Heard learned counsel for the parties.  

For the reasons  given in our judgment in C.A.Nos.7360-7361/2002, these

Civil Appeals are allowed and the impugned judgments of the Tribunal and the High

Court are set aside.

No order as to costs.

                         ...................J.               (MARKANDEY KATJU)

                        ...................J.

                                       (AFTAB ALAM) New Delhi, December 02, 2008.