Chairman, Puri Gramya Bank and Anr. v. Ananda Chandra Das and Ors.

Leave granted. This appeal arises from the Judgment of the High Court of Orissa in H 489 490 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1994) SUPP. 3 S.C.R. A . O.J.C. No. 1007/88, dated March 4, 1992. The respondent and others were selected by direct recruitment as managers of Rural Bank. His rank was No. 9 in the merit list. He was directed to be given seniority on the basis of the date of his reporting to duty. It is reported that the first respondent is dead. The only question in this ·case is that what shall be the ranking B among the direct recruits? Is it the qate on which they joined duty or according to the ranking given by the selection board? On comparative evaluation of the respective merits of the candidates for direct recruitment, the Board has prepared the merit list on the basis of the ranking secured at the time of the selection. It is settled law that if more than one are selected, the seniority is as per ranking of the direct recruits subject to the C adjustment of the candidates selected on applying the rule of reservation and the roster. By mere fortuteous chance of reporting to duty earlier would not alter the ranking given by the Selection Board and the arranged one as per roster. The High Court, is, therefore, wholly wrong in its conclusion that the seniority shall be determined on the basis of the joining D reports given by the candidates selected for appointment by direct recruit­ ment and length of service on its basis. The view, therefore, is wrong. However, we need not interfere with the order, .since the first respondent has died. The appeal is accordingly disposed of. No costs. T.N.A. Appeal disposed of.