SANTOSH RANI Vs. BIMLA MALHOTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The controversy here is with regard to the promotion of Nursing Sisters to the posts of Sister Tutors and their inter se seniority as such.

(2.) A reference to the material on record shows that the appellant Santosh Rani was appointed as Staff Nurse on December 15, 1970, while respondent Bimla Malhotra had been appointed to this post earlier on November 25, 1969. On February 23, 1976 Bimla Malhotra was promoted as Nursing Sister while Santosh Rani was promoted as such later on October 4, 1980.

(3.) The method of appointment to the next post i.e. from Nursing Sister to Sister Tutor is provided for in Punjab Medical and Health Department, Nursing Superintendents, Matrons, Sisters, Tutors, Public Health Nurses (Teaching), Nursing Sisters, Public Health Nurses, Staff Nurses and Male Nurses (State Service Class III) Rules, 1964 (hereinafter referred to as the 1964 Rules). The relevant extract of rule 9 thereof reads as under :