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2014 DIGILAW 351 (GAU)

Mina Ram Kumar v. State of Assam

2014-03-21

TINLIANTHANG VAIPHEI

body2014
Judgment Tinlianthang Vaiphei, J. 1. In this batch of three writ petitions, three graduate teachers are challenging the legality of the order dated 6.8.2013 issued by the Director of Secondary Education, Government of Assam promoting the private respondent (Smt. Archana Medhi) to the post of regular Headmistress of Dora Kahara High School. In WP(C) No. 4516 of 2013, the petitioner (Mr. Mina Ram Kumar) is a graduate in Arts but does not possess B.T. or B. Ed. Degree and was initially appointed as Assistant Teacher of Dora Kohora High School on 12.12.1979, and has been serving in the graduate cadre since then. The post of Headmaster of the school of this school became vacant on 30.11.2001 on the retirement of the incumbent Headmaster on attaining the age of superannuatioa The petitioner was allowed to hold the charge of the post of Headmaster on 22.4.2010 in terms of the order issued by the Inspector of Schools, K.D.C., Kamrup and had been serving in that capacity till the impugned order was issued. In WP(C) No. 5101 of 2013, the petitioner (Mrs. Durga Moni Borgohain) is having the qualifications of B.A., M.A. (Sanskrit) and B. Ed. Degrees and was initially appointed as Graduate Assistant Teacher of Sajei Girls' High School on 19.4.1993. By the order dated30.12.2004, she was transferred and posted to Dora Kahara High School on 30.12.2004, which she joined on 1.1.2005. She was confirmed to her post in 2010. In WP(C) No. 5543 of 2013, the Petitioner (Mr. Madan Mohan Kalita) is having B. Sc., M. Sc. and B. Ed degrees. He was initially appointed as Assistant Teacher of Pub Kaurbaha High School on 12.2.1995. After resigning from this post, he was appointed as Assistant Teacher in the graduate cadre of Dora Kohora High School on 27.7.2004, and has since then been continuously working there. 2. In WP (C) No. 4516 of 2013, it is the case of the petitioner that the respondent No. 5 (hereinafter called "private respondent" hereafter for easy reference in all the writ petitions) was initially appointed as Assistant Teacher of Borka M.E. School, but was transferred to Dora Kohora M.E. School on 25.8.1998. Both Borka M.E. School and Dora Kohora M.E. School were amalgamated on 30.3.2006. According to the petitioner, the private respondent entered the graduate cadre only on 30.3.2006 when the two schools got amalgamated. Both Borka M.E. School and Dora Kohora M.E. School were amalgamated on 30.3.2006. According to the petitioner, the private respondent entered the graduate cadre only on 30.3.2006 when the two schools got amalgamated. The Director of Secondary Education, Assam (respondent 2) after some time issued the advertisement dated 2.11.2010 in various newspapers including the daily Assam Tribune dated 4.11.2012 inviting applications from eligible candidates for the post of Headmaster/Headmistress of High School and High Madrassa by declaring that such posts were to be filled up in accordance with the provisions of the Assam Secondary Education (Provincialized) Service Rules, 2003 ("the Rules of 2003"). Though interview was held on the basis of the said advertisement, none of the teachers from Dora Kahara High School was selected as none of them qualified for the post under the provisions of the Rules. The petitioner (Mina Ram Kumar) in the meantime filed WP(C) No. 2027 of 2012 challenging the vires of Rules of 2003. On the motion day on 10.4.2012, when the Additional Advocate General submitted that in view of the challenge made before this Court, no fresh process under the impugned Rules was contemplated. 3. It is also the case of the petitioner that the respondent No. 2 again issued another advertisement dated 20.9.2012 seeking applications from eligible candidates for the post of Headmaster, etc. for those schools where the posts had not been filled up in terms of the advertisement dated 2.11.2010 in which the last date for submitting the applications was fixed as 10.10.2012. The said advertisement also stated that the posts were to be filled up in accordance with the Rules. As none of the teachers in their school were qualified for the post under the Rules, the petitioner declined to challenge the advertisement dated 20.9.2012 at that point of time. In the meantime, according to the petitioner (Mina Ram Kumar), he came to learn that the respondent No. 5 filed an application to the Headmaster of Dora Kohora High School seeking three copies of her ACRs for enabling her to apply for the post of Headmaster. According to him, this is indicative of the fact that the private respondent did not apply for this post till 6.10.2012. According to him, this is indicative of the fact that the private respondent did not apply for this post till 6.10.2012. This was followed by the letter dated 10.10.2012 to the Headmaster of Dora Kohora High School instructing him to submit the ACRs of the respondent No. 5 on or before 12.10.2012, which also suggests that the respondent No. 4 did not forward the case of the private respondent for the selection process till 10.12.2012. It is thus the case of the petitioner (Mina Ram Kumar) that the question of selection of respondent 5 for the post of Headmaster prior to 12.10.2012 does not arise. In the meantime, WP(C) No. 2027/2012 was disposed of along with connected writ petitions by a common judgment on 18.12.2012 by striking down the Rules of 2003. Nevertheless, the appointments of teachers pursuant to the advertisement dated 2.11.2010 were not interfered with by this Court. Following this development, the petitioner (Mina Ram Kumar) was under the bona fide impression that the post of Headmaster would now be filled up in accordance with Assam Secondary Education (Provincialized) Service Rules, 1982 and he, as the senior-most teacher, would be appointed as a regular Headmaster. In the aftermath of the said judgment, the respondent authorities cancelled the advertisement dated 20.9.2012, and none was accordingly selected. 4. In the meantime, some parties including the State of Assam aggrieved by the judgment dated 18.12.2012 of this Court, preferred Review Petition No. 21 of 2013 before the same Bench, which by the order dated 5.3.2012 directed maintenance of the status quo in respect of the directions contained in the judgment dated 18.12.2012. According to the petitioner (Mina Ram Kumar), the net effect of this interim order is that no action could be taken under the provisions of the Rules. However, much to the surprise of the petitioner, the respondent No. 2, in violation of the judgment dated 18.12.2012 and the said interim order dated 5.3.2013, passed the impugned order promoting the private respondent as regular Headmistress of Dora Kohora High School purportedly on the basis of the selection held on 27.9.2012. However, much to the surprise of the petitioner, the respondent No. 2, in violation of the judgment dated 18.12.2012 and the said interim order dated 5.3.2013, passed the impugned order promoting the private respondent as regular Headmistress of Dora Kohora High School purportedly on the basis of the selection held on 27.9.2012. It is submitted by the petitioner that when the respondent No. 4 instructed him (who was then the in-Charge Headmaster of the school) only on 10.10.2012 to submit the ACRs of private respondent for forwarding them to the Selection Board, no selection proceeding could have been held on 27.9.2012 to select the private respondent for appointing her to the post of Headmistress of the school: the private respondent attended her duties on 27.9.2012 by signing in the school attendance register. It is, therefore, contended by the petitioner (Mina Ram Kumar) that the selection of the private respondent is a false and concocted story, and the impugned order of promotion of the private respondent based on non-existent selection is liable to be quashed. 5. The State-respondents contested the writ petition and filed their affidavit-in-opposition through the respondent No. 2. Though no affidavit-in-opposition is filed by the private respondent, the writ petition is contested by her through her counsel, Mr. D.K. Sarma, who is allowed to rely on the application for vacation of the interim direction filed by her in the connected Misc. Case No. 2574 of 2013. In the affidavit-in-opposition of the State-respondents, the answering respondent points out that the petitioner does not have B.T. or B.Ed. Degree and is, therefore, not eligible for the post of Headmaster. The private respondent, who is B.Sc. B.Ed. appeared in the interview before the Selection Board, but her candidature was not considered as the petitioner herein filed W.P.(C) No. 4137 of 2011. However, this Court subsequently by the order dated 14.6.2012 observed that the Selection Board, if it had not selected anyone for the post of Headmaster of Dora Kahara High School, should initiate a fresh selection process. The Selection Board, having found the private respondent to be the senior-most teacher and having B.Sc. and B.Ed. Degrees, recommended her for the post of Headmistress of the school. These are the sum and substance of the case of the answering respondent. 6. No affidavit-in-reply is filed by the petitioner. The main contention of Mr. The Selection Board, having found the private respondent to be the senior-most teacher and having B.Sc. and B.Ed. Degrees, recommended her for the post of Headmistress of the school. These are the sum and substance of the case of the answering respondent. 6. No affidavit-in-reply is filed by the petitioner. The main contention of Mr. I.H. Saikia, the learned counsel for the petitioner, in WP (C) No. 4516 of 2013 is that since the petitioner is the senior-most teacher and has the requisite qualification, the private respondent has no right to be promoted to the post of Headmistress. He further submits that the private respondent was never selected by the Selection Board she was never interviewed by the Board at any time and her promotion on the basis of fraud cannot be sustained in law. Moreover, submits the learned counsel, the private respondent joined graduate cadre only on 30.3.2006 and did not complete ten years of continuous service in graduate cadre on 27.9.2012 and is, therefore, not eligible for the post of Headmistress. He, therefore, strenuously urges this Court to quash the impugned promotion order of the private respondent. 7. Mrs. P. Chakraborty, the learned Standing Counsel for the Education Department, refutes the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner by maintaining that the private respondent was selected by a duly constituted Selection Board, which, after perusing the seniority list of teachers and ACRs of the private respondent for the past three consecutive years, recommended her for the promotion. According to her, there is absolutely no infirmity in the impugned order, and the writ petition is devoid of merits and is liable to be dismissed. Mr. D.K. Sarma, the learned counsel for the private respondent, while endorsing the submissions of the learned Standing Counsel for the Education Department, further submits that the petitioner is not eligible for the post of Headmaster inasmuch as he does not have B.T. or B.Ed. Degree, which is one of the essential eligibility criteria for promotion to the post of Headmaster. The learned counsel forcefully contends that the petitioner has conveniently suppressed the material facts that he does not have B.T./B.Ed. Degree and that the Division Bench of this Court has already recalled its earlier order striking down the provisions of the Rules of 2003, which has the effect of reviving the need to have the qualification of B.T/B.Ed. The learned counsel forcefully contends that the petitioner has conveniently suppressed the material facts that he does not have B.T./B.Ed. Degree and that the Division Bench of this Court has already recalled its earlier order striking down the provisions of the Rules of 2003, which has the effect of reviving the need to have the qualification of B.T/B.Ed. degree by a candidate for the post of Headmaster. For suppression of these essential facts alone, submits the learned counsel, the writ petition is liable to be dismissed. 8. After hearing the learned counsel appearing for all the parties and on perusing the pleadings of the rival parties, I am of the view that this writ petition has no merit. That apart, the petitioner is also guilty of suppression/concealment of material facts, but for which the writ petition would have been dismissed at the very threshold. At the outset, it may be noted that the decision of the Division Bench of this Court dated 18.12.2012 in WP(C) No. 1526/12 and other connected writ petitions striking down the provisions of the Rules of 2003 has now been recalled by the same Division Bench in the order dated 20.12.2013 passed by it in Review Petition No. 21/13. The net effect of such order is that the Rules of 2003 continue to be operative. This then takes me to the provisions of Rules 14(2) and (4) of the Rules of 2003, which are as under: 14. Recruitment to the post of Vice-Principal/Headmaster/Headmistress/Superintendent/Asst. Head Master/Asst. Head Mistress of High/HS/HS & MP School? (1) * * * (2) The post of Head Master/Head Mistress and Superintendent shall fill up by promotion from the School-wise seniority list on the recommendation of the State Selection Board. The selection of Headmaster/Headmistress/Superintendent shall be based upon seniority and satisfactory Annual Confidential Reports for 3 (three) consecutive years. * * * (4) Eligibility for the post of Headmaster/Headmistress/Superintendent/Asst. Headmas-ter/Asstt. Headmistress/Asst. Superintendent of High/High Madrassa as the case may be? (i) The minimum qualification for the post of Headmaster/Headmistress/Superintendent/Assistant Headmaster/Asstt. Headmistress/Assistant Superintendent shall be graduate in Arts, Science or Commerce with B.T. or B. Ed. Degree; (ii) He/She must possess at least 10 years of teaching experience as Graduate Teacher; (iii) He/She must possess at least seven years of teaching experience as Graduate teacher to be Assistant Headmaster/Head-master/Asstt. Superintendent. 9. (i) The minimum qualification for the post of Headmaster/Headmistress/Superintendent/Assistant Headmaster/Asstt. Headmistress/Assistant Superintendent shall be graduate in Arts, Science or Commerce with B.T. or B. Ed. Degree; (ii) He/She must possess at least 10 years of teaching experience as Graduate Teacher; (iii) He/She must possess at least seven years of teaching experience as Graduate teacher to be Assistant Headmaster/Head-master/Asstt. Superintendent. 9. A combined reading of the provisions extracted above will show that the promotion to the post of Headmaster/Headmistress is to be made (1) from school-wise seniority list; (2) on the recommendation of the State Selection Board and (3) on the basis of seniority as well as satisfactory ACRs for three consecutive years (4) from graduate in arts, science or commerce with B.T. or B.Ed. degree (5) from a candidate having at least 10 years of teaching experience as a graduate teacher. In the instant case, it is an indisputable fact that the petitioner has no B.T. or B.Ed. degree, which, as already noted, is one of the essential qualifications for the post of Headmaster. It is true that if the judgment of the Division Bench striking down had not been recalled, the petitioner would have been eligible for the post under the old Rules, but that is not the case here. It is by now a well-settled proposition of law that a person lacking the requisite qualification for a post has no locus standi to assail the appointment of others? See Mohd. Shafi Pandow Vs. State of J & K & Ors., (2001) 10 SCC 447 . In this view of the matter, the petitioner has no locus standi to challenge the promotion of the private respondent, and the writ petition filed by him is, therefore, not maintainable. That apart, as already noted in the beginning, the petitioner has conveniently/deliberately concealed the material fact that the decision of this Court recalling its earlier decision striking down the provisions of the Rules of 2003, apparently, with a view to obtain a favourable order from this Court. This by itself warrants the dismissal of WP(C) 4516 of 2013 in limine. 10. In WP(C) No. 5543 of 2013 also, the petitioner, who was appointed as the Assistant Graduate of the same school on compassionate ground only on 27.7.2004, has not completed ten years of continuous service as on today, and cannot, therefore, qualify for the post of Headmaster. This by itself warrants the dismissal of WP(C) 4516 of 2013 in limine. 10. In WP(C) No. 5543 of 2013 also, the petitioner, who was appointed as the Assistant Graduate of the same school on compassionate ground only on 27.7.2004, has not completed ten years of continuous service as on today, and cannot, therefore, qualify for the post of Headmaster. Consequently, he has no locus standi to question the legality of the promotion of the private respondent (Smt. Archana Medhi). His writ petition also must meet the same fate. However, it is with respect to WP(C) No. 5101 of 2013, serious contentious issues have been raised by the petitioner (Smt. Durga Moni Borgohain) regarding her locus standi to challenge the promotion of the private respondent. Therefore, this point requires deeper examination. As already noticed, she has the qualification of M.A. and B. Ed. degrees to her credit and has completed more than thirty years as Graduate Assistant Teacher. It may at this stage be noted that the petitioner was, however, transferred from Sajei Girls' High School to Dora Kahara High School on 1.1.2005 on her own request After hearing Mr. J. Roy, the learned counsel for the petitioner, Ms. P. Chakraborty, the learned Standing Counsel for Education Department, Mr. D.K. Sarma, the learned counsel for the private respondent (Smt. Archana Medhi) and Mr. I.H. Saikia, the learned counsel for the respondent No. 6 Mr. Mina Ram Kumar), the following points are formulated for consideration: (1) Whether the private respondent, an Assistant Teacher of Dora Kahara M.E. School, which came to be amalgamated with Dora Kahar High School only on 20.1.2006, can come within the meaning of "Graduate Teacher" within the meaning of Rule 2(n) of the Rules of 2003? (2) Whether there was proper selection of the post of Headmaster of Dora Kahara High School by the State Selection Board on 27.9.2012 in terms of the advertisement dated 20,9.2012? (3) Whether there could be any selection of the post of Headmaster of the same school in terms of the advertisement dated 2.11.2010? (4) Whether the service rendered by the petitioner at Sajei Girls' High School prior to her transfer to Dora Kahara High School on her own request can be counted for the purpose of seniority? 11. I will first take up point No. 4 for discussion. (4) Whether the service rendered by the petitioner at Sajei Girls' High School prior to her transfer to Dora Kahara High School on her own request can be counted for the purpose of seniority? 11. I will first take up point No. 4 for discussion. It is reiterated that there is no dispute at the bar that the petitioner was originally serving as Graduate Assistant Teacher at Sajei Girls' High School, which she had joined on 20.4.1993 and that on her own request, she came to be transferred to Dora Kahara High School on 1.1.2005. The question as to whether the seniority of an employee transferred to another department/unit on his own request can be determined from the date of his joining of his duty in the new department/unit came up for consideration in K.P. Sudhakaran Vs. State of Kerala, (2006) 5 SCC 386 . The crucial legal position laid down by the Apex Court is found at paragraph 11 of the judgment, which reads thus: 11. In service jurisprudence, the general rule is that if a government servant holding a particular post is transferred to the same post in the same cadre, the transfer will not wipe out his length of service in the post till the date of transfer and the period of service in the post before his transfer has to be taken in consideration in computing the seniority in the transferred post. But where a government servant is so transferred on his own request, the transferred employee will have to forgo his seniority till the date of transfer, and will be placed at the bottom below the junior-most employee in the category in the new cadre or department. This is because a government servant getting transferred to another unit or department for his personal considerations, cannot be permitted to disturb the seniority of the employees in the department to which he is transferred, by claiming that his service in the department from which he has been transferred, should be taken into account. This is also because a person appointed to a particular post in a cadre, should know the strength of the cadre and prospects of promotion on the basis of the seniority list prepared for the cadre and any addition from outside would disturb such prospects. The matter is, however, governed by the relevant service rules. (Bold letters mine) 12. This is also because a person appointed to a particular post in a cadre, should know the strength of the cadre and prospects of promotion on the basis of the seniority list prepared for the cadre and any addition from outside would disturb such prospects. The matter is, however, governed by the relevant service rules. (Bold letters mine) 12. It is thus seen from the paragraph extracted in the foregoing that the normal rule is that if an employee is transferred to another unit or department on his own request, he cannot claim that his past service before his entry to the new unit/department should be counted for the purpose of seniority. However, there is a rider to this, namely, such a rule is subject to the relevant service rules. This then takes me to the provision of the Rules of 2003 to find out the existence of any provision governing the rule for determining the seniority of an employee transferred to another school on his own request. Rule 24(3) of the Rules of 2003 deals with the parameters for determination of seniority of teachers, and is reproduced below: 24.?(1) * * * (2) * * * (3) The seniority of a member of the service in a cadre who joins in a School otherwise than by direct recruitment i.e. on transfer or otherwise shall be determined as per the date of joining in the School in concerned cadre. If a member joins in the School through transfer from other School, the seniority shall be determined from the date of his joining in the School in the concerned cadre and the seniority in earlier School or in the same School in a different cadre shall not be taken into account. * * * * 13. Rule 24(3) only deals with the principle for determination of seniority of a member of the service in a cadre who joins in school otherwise than by way of direct recruitment. The rule for determination of seniority of a member of the service in a cadre who joins in a school by direct recruitment is provided for in Rule 24(1), with which we are not concerned presently. The rule for determination of seniority of a member of the service in a cadre who joins in a school by direct recruitment is provided for in Rule 24(1), with which we are not concerned presently. Under sub-rule (3) of Rule 24, it is clearly indicated that this is about seniority on transfer or otherwise, which in terms says that the seniority shall be determined as per the date of joining in the school in the concerned cadre does not cover the case of transfer on the own request and an employee. If there is any confusion on this score, the subsequent provision further clarifies that if a member joins in the school through transfer from other school, the seniority shall be determined from the date of his joining in the school in the concerned and the seniority in earlier school or in the same school in a different cadre shall not be taken into account. 14. As long as the transfer is in the school in the same cadre, the past service of an employee in the school in the same cadre cannot be wiped out and has to be taken into account for the purpose of determination of his seniority. The term "cadre" is not expressly defined in the Rules of 2003, but, in my opinion, a clue as to the meaning of this term may found by a combined reading of Rule 3(1)(b)(ii) and Rule 6. Rule 3(1)(b)(ii) says that the service in a provincialised School shall consist of the teaching and non-teaching staff; that the teaching staff shall consist of the following classes and cadres, each one of those constituting a distinct and separate cadre as on the commencement of the Rules, namely:- (a) Class II (Senior):- * * * (b) Class II (Junior):- It includes the cadres of- (i) * * * (ii)(a) Graduate Teacher, (b) Hindi Teacher having Bachelor Degree from any recognized University, (c) Classical Teacher (Sanskrit/Arabic/Language teacher) having Bachelor Degree from any recognized University; 15. Though Rule 6 seems to convey the idea that this rule is confined only to Procedure for promotion to the post of U.D.A., I nevertheless believe that a combined reading of Rule 3(1)(b)(ii) and Rule 6(3) can best explain the concept of the term "cadre" used in the Rules of 2003. Though Rule 6 seems to convey the idea that this rule is confined only to Procedure for promotion to the post of U.D.A., I nevertheless believe that a combined reading of Rule 3(1)(b)(ii) and Rule 6(3) can best explain the concept of the term "cadre" used in the Rules of 2003. Rule 6(3) says that each cadre in sub-rule (2) of Rule 3 shall form an independent cadre and members of any cadre shall have no claim for appointment at any cadre except in accordance with provisions of these rules. Thus, so read conjointly, it becomes crystal clear that graduate teachers, even if they belong to different provincialized schools in the State, shall form one independent cadre and members of other cadre cannot claim appointment or promotion in this cadre. 16. If there is still any lingering doubt in this behalf, Serial No. 5 and 5 of Schedule-III-(A) Teaching of the Rules of 2003 removes such doubt inasmuch as they clearly indicate that the posts of Asstt. Headmaster, Asstt. Headmistress and Asst. Superintendent form a cadre of Grade-in whereas the posts of Graduate Teacher, Hindi teacher having Bachelor Degree/Classical teacher (Sanskrit/Arabic/Assamese Language teacher/Music teacher) constitute separate Grade-IV cadre. Consequently, even for the purpose of determination of seniority, the past service rendered by a graduate teacher from other school cannot be wiped out when he is transferred to a different school in the same cadre. Prima facie, the petitioner in the instant case may claim that the service rendered by her in her previous school can count for determination of her seniority even after her transfer to Dora Kahara High School. Unfortunately, her case is not as simple as that. This case is not about transfer simpliciter. The transfer in question is about a transfer on her own request perhaps on compassionate grounds. Since Rule 24(3) of the Rules of 2003, which is the only provision for determination of seniority, is silent about transfer on request, the service jurisprudence propounded by the Apex Court in K.P. Sudakaran (supra) will apply in this case. Resultantly, the petitioner cannot count the past service rendered by her in Sajei Girls' High School for determination of her seniority in Dora Kahara High School after her transfer here on her own request. Resultantly, the petitioner cannot count the past service rendered by her in Sajei Girls' High School for determination of her seniority in Dora Kahara High School after her transfer here on her own request. As she can count her seniority in this school only after she was transferred to this school on her own request, she has no ten years of teaching experience as a Graduate teacher in this school, and is, therefore, not eligible for the post of Headmistress of the school. 17. It is, however, submitted by Mr. J. Roy, the learned counsel for the petitioner, that at least her working experience in her former school can be used for determining her eligibility for the purpose of her promotion to the post of Headmistress. In my opinion, this issue has been settled by the Apex Court in Union of India Vs. Deo Narain, (2008) 10 SCC 84 . The Apex Court, after reviewing several case-laws observed: 32. What was held in Poonappan reported in (1996) 1 SCC 524 : 1996 SCC (L&S) 331, by this Court was that if an employee is transferred from one department to another department on compassionate ground, he would be placed at the bottom of the seniority in the transferee department. Hence, at the time of his transfer in the transferee department, all employees in the same cadre who were very much serving at that time would be shown above such transferee employee and in such combined seniority list, the transferee would be shown as junior-most. The only thing which this court said and with respect, rightly, is that such an employee who had already worked in a particular cadre and gained experience, will not lose past service and experience for the purpose of considering eligibility when his case comes up for consideration for further promotion. 33. In our judgment, the ratio laid down by this Court in Poonappan reported in (1996) 1 SCC 524 : 1996 SCC (L&S) 331, clearly lays down the principle formulated in the government of India's Letter dated 20.5.1980 as also in a subsequent communication dated 23.5.1997 issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue,. Even otherwise, in our considered opinion, the two concepts viz. (i) eligibility, and (ii) seniority are quite distinct, different and independent of each other. A person may be eligible, fit or qualified to be considered for promotion. Even otherwise, in our considered opinion, the two concepts viz. (i) eligibility, and (ii) seniority are quite distinct, different and independent of each other. A person may be eligible, fit or qualified to be considered for promotion. It does not, however, necessarily mean that he must be treated as having requisite "seniority" for entry in the zone of consideration. Even if he fulfils the first requirement, but does not come within the zone of consideration in the light of his position and placement in "seniority", and the second condition is not fulfilled, he cannot claim consideration merely on the basis of his eligibility or qualification. It is only at the time when "seniority" cases of other employees similarly are placed are considered that his case must also be considered. CAT, in our view, therefore, was not right in applying Ponnappan reported in (1996) 1 SCC 524 : 1996 SCC (L&S) 331, and in granting relief to the applicants. There is no doubt in our mind that it says to the contrary. 18. In my opinion, the dispute raised by the learned counsel is completely answered by the foregoing observations of the Apex Court. Coming now to the first question, namely, whether the private respondent can come within the meaning of the term "Graduate teacher" within the meaning of Rule 2(n) of the Rules of 2003 because she was then merely an Assistant Graduate teacher of M.E. School prior its amalgamation with Dora Kahara High Court? At this stage, it may be instructive to refer to the definition of the term "Graduate teacher" provided for in Rule 2(n) of the rules of 2003, which is as under: 2(n) "Graduate Teacher" means the category of Assistant Teacher in High/Higher Secondary/Higher Secondary and Multipurpose/High Madrassa Schools for whose appointment the minimum qualification prescribed is a Graduate degree in Arts, Science or Commerce including demonstrators in Higher Secondary/Higher Secondary and Multipurpose School which shall also include Graduate Classical Teacher of Hindi, Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Assamese, Bodo, etc. for whose appointment a Graduate degree from any recognized University with the concerned language as a subject is necessary. 19. for whose appointment a Graduate degree from any recognized University with the concerned language as a subject is necessary. 19. The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the above definition of Graduate teacher does not include a Graduate teacher of M.E. School and, as such, there is no question of the private respondent coming within the purview of a Graduate teacher to claim parity with the Graduate teachers of High Schools. It is further submitted by him that the experience of teaching in an M.E. school gained by the private respondent cannot also be equated with the experience of the petitioner as a Graduate teacher of a High School: to give parity of treatment to both the petitioner, who is a Graduate teacher of a High School and the private respondent, who was merely a Graduate teacher of M.E. School prior to its amalgamation with the High School in question would amount to under-classification thereby negating Article 14 of the Constitution. In my opinion, this submission though attractive at the first blush does not really stand closer scrutiny. It is not the case of the petitioner that a Graduate teacher of M.E. School has a lower pay scale than a Graduate teacher of a High School or has lower qualification than a Graduate teacher. Neither is it the case of the petitioner that there was any clause in the amalgamation order indicating that the past service of the private respondent in the M.E. School would be wiped out after the amalgamation of the two schools. 20. The above view can be demonstrated by Serial No. 6 of Schedule-III-(A) Teaching to the Rules of 2003 which indicates that all the Graduate teachers irrespective of whether he belongs to M.E. School or High School shall have the same pay scale, namely, Rs. 3580-8750/-. They also have the same qualification and belong to the same cadre. In State of U.P. Vs. Surendra Nath Mishra, (2011) 75 SCC 157, an issue of virtually similar nature came up for consideration before the Apex Court, and was decided in the following manner: ....The question for consideration therefore is whether the impugned judgment striking down the provision of Rule 20(1)(c) of the Rules [U.P. Higher Education (Group A) Service Rules, 1985] is sustainable in law or not. Mr. Mr. Singh, the learned Standing Counsel for the U.P. Government vehemently contended that the High court committed error in striking down the rules inasmuch as the source of recruitment were different, and the lecturers of the post graduate degree colleges were always enjoying a higher status, and consequently prior to the merger of those who are already in the cadre, their seniority would be jeopardized by taking into account the past services rendered the lecturers of degree in the combined cadre. According to the learned counsel, the unequals would be treated as equals, if the seniority is determined on the basis of the entire length of service. We see no force in the aforesaid contention, particularly when the recruitment to the different posts in the degree colleges as well as in the post graduate colleges was being made by the process of selection through the Public Service Commission, and further the prescribed qualification was one and the same. The pay scale also after the pay revision became same with effect from 1965. In fact, in view of the similarity of the employees in the two cadres, Government thought it fit to merge into one cadre. Having done so by virtue of an order of merger, and not having indicated in the merger order that the past services of the employees of the degree colleges would be wiped off, it would be wholly unreasonable, irrational and arbitrary on the part of the state Government to frame a rule by which the past services can be wiped off. The effect of Rules 20(1)(c) is that so far as the employees who were appointed as lecturers in the Degree Colleges must be held to be fresh employees on the date of merger in the combined cadre. This, in our view, was wholly unreasonable, and the High Court was fully justified in striking down the relevant rules in question. We, therefore, do not see any merit these appeals, which are accordingly dismissed. (Underline for emphasis) 21. In my judgment, the instant case is also one where the graduate teachers of M.E. School cannot be segregated from the graduate teachers of High Schools once their services have been amalgamated, more so, when they have the same pay scale, have the same qualification and were recruited by the same process of selection. (Underline for emphasis) 21. In my judgment, the instant case is also one where the graduate teachers of M.E. School cannot be segregated from the graduate teachers of High Schools once their services have been amalgamated, more so, when they have the same pay scale, have the same qualification and were recruited by the same process of selection. Neither is there any condition in the amalgamation order that the past services of Graduate teachers of M.E. Schools after amalgamation would be wiped out. In the view that I have taken, there is no merit in the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the private respondent cannot be treated as a Graduate teacher within the term "Graduate Teacher" referred to in Rule 2(n) of the Rules of 2003 and cannot, therefore, count her previous services as a Graduate teacher of M.E. School. Coming now to question as to whether there was proper selection of the post of Headmaster of Dora Kahara high School by the State Selection Board on 27.9.2012 in terms of the advertisement dated 20.9.2012, in the light of my findings that the petitioner (Smt. Durga Moni Borgohain) is not eligible for the post of Headmistress, it becomes clear that she has no locus standi to question the appointment of the private respondent as in the previous case i.e. WP(C) No. 4516/13. Therefore, this issue has become redundant and need not be decided on the principle that Courts do not decide more than what is necessary. The result of the foregoing discussion is that there is no merit in any of the writ petitions, which are liable to be dismissed, which I hereby do. However, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the parties shall bear their own costs. In the light of the dismissal of the three writ petitions, Misc. Case No. 2575 of 2013 does not survive for consideration, and is accordingly disposed of. Petition dismissed.