Holding

Seniority of a promotee District Judge is reckoned from the date of promotion, whereas seniority of a direct recruit District Judge is reckoned only from the date he is appointed to work as a District Judge after completing the probationary period, rendering the High Court's decision erroneous.

Summary

The Supreme Court entertained a writ petition under Article 32 filed by promotee District Judges of the Maharashtra State Judicial Service Association challenging the Bombay High Court's administrative decision on inter‑se seniority. The High Court had held that direct recruit District Judges (appointed by nomination from the Bar) should have their seniority counted from the date of their initial appointment as Additional District Judges, while promotees should have seniority from the date of promotion. The petitioners argued that the phrase "to work as" in Rule 5(2)(c) and Rule 5(2)(iii)(a) of the Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment (Second Amendment) Rules, 1992, requires seniority of direct recruits to be reckoned only from the date they start working as District Judges after completing the two‑year probation. The Court examined the literal meaning of the rules, the purpose of the probationary period, and the earlier decision in Balasaheb Vishnu Chavan v. State of Maharashtra. It held that the probationary period cannot be counted for seniority and that seniority of direct recruits begins when they are appointed to work as District Judges, while promotees' seniority begins from the date of promotion. Consequently, the High Court's decision was struck down and the petition was allowed, with a direction to amend Rule 5(2) accordingly.

Issues considered

Whether seniority of direct recruit District Judges appointed by nomination from the Bar should be reckoned from the date of their initial appointment as Additional District Judges or from the date they are appointed to work as District Judges after probation.
Whether the High Court's administrative decision on inter‑se seniority can be challenged under Article 32 of the Constitution.
Interpretation of the expression "to work as" in Rule 5(2)(c) and Rule 5(2)(iii)(a) of the Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment (Second Amendment) Rules, 1992.

Subjects

service lawsenioritydistrict judgesrecruitment rulesinter se seniorityArticle 32judicial serviceprobationdirect recruitpromotion

Judgment

MAHARASHTRA STATE JUDICIAL SERVICE A
ASSOCIATION AND ORS.
v.
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY AND ORS.

FEBRUARY 20, 2002
B
[G.B. PATTANAIK AND S.N. PHUKAN, JJ.]

Service Law

Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment (Second Amendment) Rules, 1992- C
Rule 5(2)(ii) and 5(2)(c)-District Judges-lnter-se Seniority-Reckoning of-
District Judges appointed by nomination from the Bar and those promoted
from the rank of Additional District Judges-Direct Recruits to work as
Additional District Judges on probation for two years-High Court holding
that those who were appointed by nomination would reckon their seniority D
from the date of appointment and the promotee to reckon their seniority from
the date of their promotjrm-Held, not justified---Seniority of direct recruit
could be reckoned from ~he date of his appointment to work as a District
• Judge after completing the probation period and not from the initial
appointment-Order of High Court struck down-Alteration of sub-clauses of
s.5(2)-Appropriate amendment- -Directions issued E
Words and Phrases

Expression "to work as"-Meaning of in context of Rule 5(2)(iii)(a) and
Rule 5(2)(c) of Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment (Second Amendment)
Rules, 1992. F
The issue involved in the present writ petition is regarding the inter-se-
seniority of District Judges appointed by nomination from the Bar and those
who were promoted from the rank of Additional District Judge.

Under Rule 5(2)(iii)(a) of the Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment G
(Second Amendment), Rules, 1992 direct recruit District Judges were to work
as Additional District Judges on probation for a period of two years and only
on completion of the said period of probation they were appointed as District
Judges. High Court on administrative side held that those who were appointed
by nomination would reckon their seniority in the cadre from the date of their H
1125
1126 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2002) I S.C.R.

A appointment and the promotee District Judges would reckon their seniority
from the date of their promotion. Hence the present writ petition by
promotees.

On behalf of promotee-petitioners it W2S contended that on a plain literal
meaning being given to the language used in Rule 5(2)(c), the seniority in case
B of o direct recruit has to be reckoned from the date he was appointed to work
as District Judge and not from the date he was appointed to work as an
Additional District Judge.

Allowing the writ petition, the Court

C HELD : 1.1. The seniority of a promotee District Judge would reckon
from the date of his promotion, from which date he is appointed to work as
District Judge a11d in case of a direct recruit, the same would be the date from
which he is appointed to work as a District Judge, after completion of the
period of probation of two years and not from the initial appointment to work
D as Additional District Judge. (1135-G(

1.2. There is 110 manner of doubt that the seniority of the direct recruit
District Judges in the cadre would reckon only from the date they are
appointed to work as District Judge. The expression •'to work as" both in
ruler 5(2)(iii)(a) imd Rule 5(2)(c) must curry the same connotation. If under •
E Rule 5(2)(~ii)(a), direct rec,ruit cannot be appointed as a District Judge unless
he is first appointed to work as Additional District Judge for a period of two
years, it is difficult to comprehend that while interpreting the same expression
"to work as District Judge" in rule 5(2)(c) can be given a meaning that it
would reckon from the date of appointment, as has been done by the High
Court in its administrative decision. In other words, a conjoint reading of the
F provisions, providing for appointment of District Judge from amongst the
members of the Bar by nomination of the recommendation of the High Court I
as well as the embargo on such appointment, as provided in Rule S(2)(iii)(a)
makes it explicitly clear that a person selected for being appointed as District
Judge, is allowed to work initially as an Additional District Judge on probation
G for a period of two years and that period cannot be counted as service in the
cadre of District Judge for seniority. His services in the cadre of District Judge
for seniority would start reckoning on completion of his probation for a period
of two years or any further period, as extended by the High Court and he is
allowed to work as District Judge. (1135-A-D(

H 2. The stand taken by the High Court as well as by the direct recruit
MAHA. STATE JVDI. SER. ASSO. v. HIGH COURT OF JUDI. AT BOMBAY [PATTANAIK,J.) 1127

District Judges is wholly unsustainable and it is unimagniable that a rule A
providing for recruitment to the c11dre District Judge, which is essentially
composed of direct recruits and promotees 11nd a rule of seniority has been
provided, but does not cover the case of direct recruit District Judges. The
entire 1momaly 11nd confusion is on 11ccount of the mistake that WllS committed
while inserting another clause under the amendment of 1992. Rule 5(2) of
the 1992 Rules, therefore, require necessary alteration, either by altering B
existing sub-clause (a) as sub-clause (c), sub-clause (b) as sub-clause (a) sub-
clause (c) 11s sub-clause (b) and then in sub-clause (iii) (a) by altering sub-
clause (c) as sub-clause (b) or keeping Rule 5(2)(ii) and Rule (2)(iii)(a) as it
stands and altering and 11mending clauses (b) and (c). It is therefore directed
that appropriate amendment of rule 5(2) of the Recruitment Rules be made C
at an early date. (1134-D-G)

Balasaheb Vishnu Chavan and Anr. v. State of Maharashtra and Ors.,
[1984) 2 sec 675, referred to.

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Writ Petition (C) No. 609 of D
2000.

(Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India)

L. Nageshwara Rao, M.L. Venna, S.K. Dholakia, Bhimrao N. Naik,
Arvind Kumar. Manish Shanna, Ms. Sujata Kurdukar. Prashant Kumar. Ms. E
Triveni Potekar, C.S. Ashri, S.S. Shinde, S.V. Deshpande, Sunil Kumar Venna,
Shivaji M. Jadhav and C.G. Solshe for the appearing parties.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

PATTANAIK, J. This petition under Article 32 of the Constitution by F
the promotee District Judges, who are members of the Maharashtra State
Judicial Service Association, assails the decision of the Bombay High Court
on Administrative side on the question of inter se seniority of District Judges,
appointed by nomination from the Bar and those who are promoted from the
rank of Additional District Judge. On consideration of the relevant statutory G
rules and the judgment of this Court in Balasaheb Vishnu Chavan and Anr.
v. State of Maharashtra and Ors., [1984] 2 SCC 675, the High Court came
to the conclusion that District Judges, who are appointed by nomination
• would reckon their seniority in the cadre from the date of appointment, even
though they are asked to work as Additional District Judges and the promotee
District Judges would reckon their seniority from the date of their promotion. H
1128 SUPREME COCRT REPORTS (2002] I S.C.R.

A In the writ petition that had been filed, Smt. U.R. Joshi, a direct recruit
District Judge had been arrayed as respondent No. 3 in her individual capacity
as well as representative of the direct recruit nominated District Judges. She
however appeared in her individual capacity alone and amongst the direct
recruits, she was the senior-most. When the case had appeared before the
Court on 16.1.2002, and even though a statement was made by the counsel
B appearing for the promotee-petitioners that individual notices to each of the
direct recruit had been offered, even though they had not been arrayed as
parties, an application for being impleaded as party respondents had been
made by several such direct recruits and the prayer for impleadment has been
allowed and time had been granted to the imp leaded direct recruits respondents
C to file counter affidavit within ten days from that date. The impleaded direct
recruits have filed their counter affidavit and were represented by Shri M.L.
Verma, the learned senior counsel. Respondent No. 3, the senior-most direct
recruit District Judge was represented by Shri Bhimrao N. Naik. Shri S.M.
Jadhav appeared for the High Court and Shri S. V. Deshpande, appeared for
the State of Maharashtra. On behalf of the direct recruit respondents, a
D preliminary objection had been taken by Shri M.L. Verma that the dispute
being one of inter se seniority within a cadre, the Court ought not to entertain
a petition under Article 32, as the parties were entitled to approach the High
Court under Article 226 against the Administrative decision of the Bombay
High Court. We have no doubt in our mind that an administrative decision
E of the Court could be assailed by filing a writ petition under Article 226 in
the High Court itself, but this Court having entertained the petition under
Article 32 by issuing rule on 8.12.2000 and the dispute being one, which
centres round 'interpretation of the relevant rules and both the direct recruits
and the promotces having made their stand known, and further no disputed
question on facts having arisen, we do not think it appropriate to direct the
F promotees to approach the High Court in the first instance. We, therefore,
heard the parties at length on the merits of the matter.

The Service conditions of the employees belonging to the Judicial Service
of the State of Maharashtra is governed by a set of rules framed by the
G Governor of Maharashtra in consultation with the High Court in exercise of
powers conferred by Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution and the proviso
to Article 309 of the Constitution called the Bombay Judicial Service
Recruitment Rules, 1956 [hereinafter referred to as the recruitment rules'].
The said rules have been amended twice, once in the year 1987 and again in ~
the year 1992. Under Section 3 of the Rules, the service consists of two
H branches-junior and senior. The senior branch consists of District Judges,
MAHA. STATE JUDI. SER. ASSO. •.HIGH COURT OF JUDI. AT BOMBAY (PATTANAIK, !.] 1129
Principal Judge and all other Judges of the Bombay City Civil Court, Additional A
District Judges, Chief Judge and Additional Chief Judges of the Small Causes
Court, Bombay and Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and Additional Chief
Metropolitan Magistrates, as provided in Rule 3(3). The method of recruitment
to the senior branch is indicated in Rule S. Under sub-rule (2) of Rule 5, the
District Judges are of two grades - (a) District Judges and (b) Small causes
Court District Judges. In the original Recruitment rules of 1956, there were B
no two grades of District Judges and under Rule 5(2)(i), appointment to the
post of District Judges could be made by the Govemor by promotion in
consultation with the High Court of persons, who have served as Assistant
Judges and from the Members of the Bar, on recommendation of the High
Court, who have practised as Advocates or pleaders for not less than seven C
years. Thus, the cader of District Judge could be filled up either by promotion
of the Assistant Judges or by direct recruitment from the Bar. Under the
amended Rules of 1987, there existed two grades of the District Judges viz.
the District Judges and Selection Grade District Judges. In accordance with
Rule 5(2)(ii) of 1987 Rules, appointment to the post of District Judges could D
be made by the Governor by promotion from the Members of the Junior
Branch, who had ordinarily served as Additional District Judges and by way
of direct requirement on the recommendation of the High Court from the
members of the Bar who have practised as Advocates or pleaders for not less
than seven years in the High Court or Courts subordinate thereto. In case of
direct recruits, a further stipulation was that direct recruits would be first E
appointed to work as Additional District Judge for a period of two years or
for such further period, as may be decided by the Government on the
recommendation of the High Court. The Recruitment Rules were again
amended in the year 1992 called the Bombay Judicial Service Recruitment
(Second Amendment) Rules, 1992 and Rule 5(2)(ii) read thus:
F
"Rule 5(2)(ii) : District Judges-Appointment to the posts of District
Judges shall be made by the Governor.

(a) by transfer from the judges in the City Civil and Sessions Court,
Bombay, who are recruited from the Bar only if they are willing;
G
(b) by promotion in consultation with the High Court, from the
members of the Junior Branch who have been promoted as
Additional District Judge; and

(c) by nomination, on the recommendation of the High Court, who
has been for not less than seven years an advocate or pleader in H
1130 SlJPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] l S.C.R.

A the High Court or Courts subordinate thereto."

It is thus apparent that the appointment to the post of District Judges under
1992 Rules, could be made not only by promotion of Additional District
Judges and by nomination from amongst the members of the Bar, having not
less than seven years practice on the recommendation of the High Court, but
B also by transfer from the Judges in the City Civil and Sessions Court, who
are recruited from the Bar, only if they are willing. It may be borne in mind
that when the High Court had recommended for addition of a new sub-rule
to Rule 5(2Xii), so as to make appointment to the post of District Judge by
transfer from the Judges in the City Civil and Sessions Court, by suggesting
C that a new sub-rule to be numbered as clause [c] to be added and that was
in the draft rule, but in its final shape, the said new sub-rule was numbered
as clause (a) and the pre-existing clause (a] became clause [b] and the pre-
existing clause [b] became clause [c] and by this alteration, the Rule as it
stands now, has become wholly unworkable. Though Rule 5(2)(ii) was
amended by the amended rules of 1992, but Rule 5(2)(iiXb) remained intact,
D as a result of which though under 1992 Rules, Rule S(ii)(b) provides for
promotion and Rule 5(2XiiXc) provides for nomination on the recommendation
of the High Court but while prescribing the proportion between them in sub-
rule (b ), the old provision remains as it 1s and the same is quoted herein
below:

E "(b) ordinarily the proportion of posts filled in by promotion, under
sub-clause (a) of clause (ii) and those by appointment from members
of the Bar under sub-clause (b) of clause (ii) shall be 50:50."

It would thus be seen that under the Rule as it now stands, appointment from
F members of the Bar is made under sub-clause [c] and not under sub-clause
(b) as indicated above and promotion is made under sub-clause [b) and not
under sub-clause [a] as indicated above. The entire confusion is because of
the fact that while draft rules suggested an addition of a clause as clause [c ],
the final rule altered the same and the additional clause was made clause [a].
The seniority in the cadre of District Judges with which we are actually
G concerned in the present case is governed by clause [c] of Rule 5(2) and the
same is extracted herein below :

"(c] Seniority in the cadre of District Judges in case of persons
appointment under sub-clauses (a) and (b) of clause (ii) shall be
detennined on the basis of their dates of appointment to work as
H District Judges."
MAHA. STATE JUDI. SER. ASSO. •.HIGH COURT OF JUDI. AT BOMBAY [PATTANAIK, J.) l J3 l

If a literal interpretation of the seniority rules is to be given, then it must be A
held that there is no rule for seniority of the District Judges, who are appointed
by nomination on the recommendation of the High Court from amongst the
members of the Bar, having not less than seven years' standing as an advocate,
as that would come under sub-clause [c] of Rule 5(2Xii), whereas the seniority
rule provides for determination of inter se seniority amongst the persons
appointed under sub-clause [a] and sub-clause [b]. For a proper appreciation B
of the matter, it would be proper to extract Rule 5(2), as it stands now, after
the amendment of 1992: ·

"Rule 5(2): District Judges, Selection Grade District Judges and Judges
of the Bombay City Civil Court :- C
(i) District Judges shall be of two grades namely :-

(a) District Judges : and

(b) Selection Grade District Judges.
D
(ii) District Judges--Appointment to the posts of District Judges shall
be made by the Governor.

(a) by transfer from the Judges in the City Civil and Sessions
Court, Bombay, who are recruited from the Bar only if they ._ E
are willing;

(b) by promotion in consultation with the High Court, from the
members of the Junior Branch, who have been promoted as
, Additional District Judges; and
F
(c) by nomination, on the recommendation of the High Court,
who has been for not less than seven years an advocate or
pleader in the High Court or Courts subordinate thereto.

(iii) (a) Appointment under sub-clause [c] of clause (ii) shall not be
made unless a person is first appointed to work as an Additional G
District Judge on probation for a period of two years which may
be extended by the High Court from time to time, as it may deem
fit.

(a-1) During the period of probation of until expressly
confirmed by a written order the services of an appointee H
1132 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002) I S.C.R.

A shall be tenninated by one month notice on either side,
without any reason being assigned therefore or by payment •
of salary for the period of notice or the unexpired portion
thereof.

[a-2] He/she shall be required to pa~s the language
B examination according to the rules prescribed in that behalf
unless he has already passed, or has been exempted from
passing those examinations.]

(b) ordinarily the proportion of posts filled in by promotion, under
sub-clause (a) of clause (ii) and those by appointment from members
c of the Bar under sub-clause (b) of clause (ii) shall be 50:50;

[c] Seniority in the cadre of District Judges in case of persons
appointment under sub-clauses (a) and (b) of clause (ii) shall be
detennined on the basis of their dates of appointment to work as
District Judges:
D
Provided that, if more than one person is so appointed to work as
District Judge on the date, seniority inter se as between them shall be
in the order fixed by the High Court."

In course of hearing, to our query, the counsel appearing for the High Court,
E on instructions, submitted that there is not a single person in the cadre of
District Judge, who has come by way of transfer from the Judges in the City
Civil and Sessions Court, who had been recruited from the B.ar and only one
person who had come, had gone back.

Mr. Nageshwara Rao, appearing for the promotees, contended that the
F administrative decision of the High Court, determining inter se seniority
between the promotees and direct recruits has been made on the basis of the
Judgment of this Court in Balasaheb Vishunu Chavan & Anr. v. State of
Maharashtra and Ors., [1984] 2 SCC 675, in which case, the provisions of
the Recruitment Rules, as it stood prior to its amendment in 1987 was under
G consideration. At that point of time, there was no rule for determination of
inter se seniority between the direct recruits and promottes, which was brought
about by amendment of 1987 and has also been retained under the 1992
Rules. The question for consideration in the aforesaid case was, though a
member of the Bar is recruited as a District Judge, he may be asked to serve
as an Assistant Judge for a specified period if he is below the prescribed age
H and, therefore, whether such appointment would make him a member of the
MAHA. STATE JUDI. SER. ASSO. '·HIGH COURT OF JUDI. AT BOMBAY (PATTANAIK,J.J 1133
cadre of Assistant Judge or he can be held to be a District Judge, but has been A
• required to serve as an Assistant Judge for gaining experience. On construction
of the relevant provisions of the Rules, the Court held that when a member
of the Bar is recruited as a District Judge and is asked to serve as an Assistant
Judge for a specified period, if he is below the prescribed age, then his
functioning as Assistant Judge would not be strictly in law make him as a
member of the cadre of Assistant Judge, as there is no provision for direct
B
recruitment to the cadre of Assistant Judge. Consequently, such a person
cannot be called as a member of the Assistant Judge subject to the rule of
seniority applicable to the regular members of that cadre who are appointed
only by promotion from the Junior Branch. According to Mr. Nageshwara
Rao, the aforesaid decision could not be relied upon for determining the inter c
se seniority between the direct recruit and promotee District Judges, in view
of the specific rule dealing with seniority. Mr. Nageshwara Rao contends that
on a plain literal meaning being given to the language used in Rule 5(2)(c),
-~ the seniority in case of a direct recruit has to be reckoned from the date, he
is appointed to work as District Judge and not from the date, he is appointed
to work as an Additional District Judge. The learned counsel, in support of D
the aforesaid contention also relies upon Rule 5(iii)(a), which unequivocally
puts an embargo for an appointment as District Judge from amongst the
members of the Bar unless such person on being selected is first appointed
to work as Additional District Judge on probation for period of two years,
which may be extended by the High Court from time to time, as it may deem E
fit. Mr. Nageshwara Rao, therefore, contends that a promotee District Judge
on being promoted from the post of Additional District Judge, is entitled to
reckon his seniority in the cadre from the date of promotion, whereas a direct
recruit District Judge by nomination on the recommendation of the High
Court from amongst the members of the Bar, who have practised for not less
than seven years, would be entitled to reckon his seniority in the cadre of F
District Judge only when he is appointed to work as a District Judge and not
the initial period of probation for two years when he is appointed to work as
an Additional District Judge.

Mr. M.L. Verma, the learned senior counsel, appearing for the direct
G
., recruits as well as Mr. Bhimrao N. Naik, appearing for respondent No. 3,
however contended that the seniority rule as provided in Rule 5[2][c] does
not deal with the seniority in the cadre of District Judge and those members,
who are directly recruited from the Bar on the recommendation of the High
Court, after being selected and the aforesaid rule of seniority is intended for
determining inter se seniority between the promotees and those who are H
1134 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2002] I S.C.R:

A appointed as District Judge by transfer from the Judges in the City Civil and
Sessions Court. According to Mr. Verma, even the prescription of ratio of •
50:50 in Rule 5(2)(b) is between the transferee District Judges and the promotee
District Judges and not between the direct recruit District Judges and promotee
District Judges. The learned counsel urge that in the cadre of District Judges,
B the quota of promotees has become much more than, what is provided and,
therefore, those of the promotees who have usurped the quota meant for
direct recruits, cannot be given any seniority. We fail to understand how this
contention could be advanced in the teeth of his submission that Rule 5(2)(b)
does not provide for any quota for the direct recruits. We also are not in a
position to appreciate the contention that the inter se seniority rule in the
C cadre of District Judge does not provide for seniority of the direct recruits,
which has to be in accordance with the Maharashtra Civil Service (Regulation
of Seniority) Rules, 1982. In fact the Registrar of the High Court, in the
affidavit filed, has taken the aforesaid stand. In our considered opinion, the
stand taken by the High Court as well as by the direct recruit District Judges
is wholly unsustainable and it is unimaginable that a rule providing for
D recruitment to the cadre of District Judge, which is essentially composed of
direct recruits and promotees and a rule of seniority has been provided, but
does not cover the case of direct recruit District Judges. The entire anomaly ..
and confusion is on account of the mistake that was committed while inserting
another clause under the amendment of 1992. As has been stated earlier, as
E on date there is not a single person, who has come on transfer from the
category of Judges in the City Civil and Sessions Court and is working as
District Judge. Rule 5(2) of the 1992 Rules, therefore, require necessary
alteration, either by altering existing sub-clause [a] as sub-clause [c], sub-
clause (b] as sub-clause (a] and sub-clause (c] as sub-clause [b] and then in
sub-clause (iii)(a) by altering sub-clause [c] as sub-clause [b] or keeping Rule ...
F 5(2)(ii) and Rule (2)(iii)(a) as it stands and altering and amending clauses
{b} and {c}. It appears that the State Government or the High Court have not
applied their mind to the amendments carried out and necessary attentio.1 has
not been bestowed. The counse! appearing for the High Court on instructions
however submitted that even from 1992 till the Administrative decision, which
G is being impugned in the present case, the High Court has been acthg in
accordance with the draft rules that had been submitted and therefore, no
inconvenience has been caused. This indicates the real intention of the <::ourt
as well as that of the Government. We, therefore, direct that appm,riate
amendment of Rule 5(2) of the Recruitment Rule be made at an early date.
Notwithstanding the confusion which writ large in the provisions, as stated
H earlier, we have no manner of doubt that the seniority of the direct recruit
MAHA. STATE JUDI. SER. ASSO. •.HIGH COURT OF JUDI AT BOMBAY [PATTANAIK, J.) 1135
District Judges in the cadre would reckon only from the date, they are A
appointed to work as District Judge. The expression "to work as" both in
Rule 5(2)(iii)(a) and Rule 5[2][c] must carry the same connotation. If under
Rule 5(2)(iii)(a), direct recniit cannot be appointed as a District Judge unless
he is first appointed to work as Additional District Judge for a period of two
years, it is difficult for us to comprehend that while interpreting the same B
expression "to work as District Judge" in Rule 5[2)[c] can be given a meaning
that it would reckon from the date of appointment, as has been done by the
Bombay High Court in its administrative decision. In other words, a conjoint
reading of the provisions, providing for appointment as District Judge from
amongst the members of the Bar by nomination on the recommendation of
the High Court as well as the embargo on such appointment, as provided in C
Rule 5(2)(iii)(a) makes it explicitly clear that a person when is selected for
being appointed as District Judge, he is allowed to work initially as an
Additional District Judge on probation for a period of two years and that
period cannot be counted as service in the cadre of District Judge for seniority.
His services in the cadre of District Judge for seniority would start reckoning
on completion of his probation for the period of two years or any further D
period, as extended by the High Court and he is allowed to work as District
Judge. lncidently, it may be mentioned that after being selected for being
appointed as District Judge, when the direct recruits are appointed to work
as an Additional District Judge on probation for two years, they get the lesser
salary as is meant for Additional District Judge and do not get the salary of E
a District Judge. From the records, it also transpires that such direct recruits,
on completion of their probation as Additional District Judge, are appointed
as District Judges, as was done in case of respondent No. 3 by order dated
8th of January, 1992. In the aforesaid premises, we have no hesitation to hold
that the administrative decision of the Bombay High Court dated 6th of May,
2000, on the basis of the decision of the Committee dated 12th of January, F
2000, is erroneous and we accordingly strike down the same. We further hold
that the seniority of a promotee District Judge would reckon from the date
of his promotion, from which date he is appointed to work as District Judge
and in case of a direct recruit, the same would be the date from which he is
appointed to work as a District Judge, after completion of the period of G
probation of two years and not from the initial appointment to work as
Additional District Judge .
•
This writ petition is accordingly allowed.

S.V.K. Petition allowed.