#seniority in promotions

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a government employee’s voluntary relinquishment of a promotional post does not automatically alter seniority unless formally accepted by the competent authority. This clarifies a critical procedural safeguard for service candidates, ensuring promotions are governed by official record, not unilateral intent, and prevents arbitrary seniority adjustments in public employment.

CAT Lucknow rules that once promotions under the 1979 Service Rules are settled by judicial order, they acquire finality and cannot be undone-even if the original reasoning contained legal errors. The decision reinforces vested rights in service matters, protecting employees from retrospective administrative revisions post-cadre restructuring.