WINJE ROSALIE G. MOMIN Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The only question which falls for consideration in this matter pertains to the inter-se seniority between groups of persons in the Meghalaya Civil Service and the Meghalaya Police Service. The principal ground urged by the writ petitioners is that since the writ petitioners were appointed earlier in point of time than the private respondents herein, there can be no question of ascertaining any inter-se seniority between the writ petitioners and private respondents.

(2.) A rather absurd situation is presented on behalf of the State. The State claims that in terms of Rule 16(4) of the Meghalaya Civil Service Rules, 1975 the inter-se seniority between the persons who underwent the process of examination together has to be determined, irrespective of when such persons may have been appointed. The submission has to be repelled without any further consideration.

(3.) The facts need to be recorded in some greater detail. Following an advertisement issued on November 22, 2006 and the addendum that followed in December of that year, a combined examination was conducted for recruitment into the Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) and the Meghalaya Police Service (MPS) by the State Public Service Commission and a select list in the descending order of merit was published on or about September 7, 2010 indicating a total of 74 successful candidates.