R.S.RAGHUNATH vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

Case Type: Civil Appeal

Date of Judgment: 04-10-1991

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http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 1 of 21 PETITIONER: R.S. RAGHUNATH Vs. RESPONDENT: STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANR. DATE OF JUDGMENT04/10/1991 BENCH: KULDIP SINGH (J) BENCH: KULDIP SINGH (J) REDDY, K. JAYACHANDRA (J) YOGESHWAR DAYAL (J) CITATION: 1992 AIR 81 1991 SCR Supl. (1) 387 1992 SCC (1) 335 JT 1991 (4) 82 1991 SCALE (2)808 ACT: Service Law: Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruit- ment) Rules, 1977--(General Rules)/Karnataka General Service (Motor Vehicles Branch) Recruitment Rules, 1976--(Special Rules) Promotion to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Transport--New Rule 3 (2) inserted in the General Rule--Stipulating seniority-cum-merit as basis--- Special Rules providing selection as basis--Whether the General Rules override the Special Rules, Non-obstante clause---Whether has the effect of abrogat- ing the earlier Special law. Statutory Construction: Non-obstante clause--Scope of--Whether to be necessarily and always co-extensive with operative portion--Courts to examine every word in its context and use it in its widest sense, HEADNOTE: The appellant was initially appointed as Inspector of Motor Vehicles and was promoted as Assistant Regional Trans- port Officer In 1976, when the Karnataka General Service (Motor Vehicles Branch) (Recruitment) Rules, 1976 were in force. Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 came into being thereafter. The appellant was promoted as Regional Transport Officer in 1981. The General Rules of 1977 were amended in 1982 and sub-rule (2) of Rule 3 was inserted, and as per the new Rule 3(2) the second Respondent was promoted as Deputy Commissioner of Transport on seniority-cum-merit basis. The appellant filed an Application before the State Administrative Tribunal questioning the promotion of the second Respondent on the ground that promotion to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Transport should have been made by selection and not on seniority-cure-merit basis. He also sought a declaration that the promotion of Respondent No. 2 was illegal and Respondent No.1 be directed to consider the case of the appellant for promotion to the post of Deputy Transport Commissioner with all consequential benefits. The Tribunal dismissed the application on 388 http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 2 of 21 the ground that Rule 3(2) of the General Rules, which was introduced later, had the effect of overriding the earlier special Rules, and hence the promotion made as per Rule 3(2) of the General Rule was valid. Aggrieved by the Tribunal’s order, the appellant pre- ferred the present appeal, by special leave. On behalf of the appellant it was contended that the Special Rules were exclusively meant to govern the recruit- ment and promotion of officers of various cadres of the Motor Vehicles Department and the General Rules which gener- ally regulate the recruitment of all State Civil Services broadly even though later in point of time cannot abrogate the Special Rules and that they were not meant to be so since the Special Rules were not superseded and were very much in force. The Respondent-State contended that the non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules which was intro- duced later clearly indicate the intention of the Legisla- ture to supersede the Special Rules and promotions from the cadre of Regional Transport Officer to that of Deputy Com- missioner of Transport could only be on the basis of senior- ity-cum-merit and not by selection. Allowing the appeal, this Court, HELD: (By the Court) Sub-rule (2) of Rule 3 of Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977- (General Rules) has the overriding effect over the Karnataka General Service (Motor Vehicles Branch) (Recruitment) Rules, 1976--(Special Rules). [400 D,E] Per Majority (By Reddy, J.-Kuldip Singh, .1. concurring) 1. Examining the scope of Rule 3(2) particularly along with other General Rules, the context in which Rule 3(2) is made is very clear. It is not enacted to supersede the Special Rules. [403-G] 2.1 The non-obstante clause is appended to a provision with a view to give the enacting part of the provision an overriding effect in case of a conflict. But the non-ob- stante clause need not necessarily and always be co-exten- sive with the operative part so as to have the effect of cutting down 389 the clear terms of an enactment and if the words of the enactment are clear and are capable of a clear interpreta- tion on a plain and grammatical construction of the words the non-obstante clause cannot cut down the construction and restrict the scope of its operation. In such cases the non- obstante clause has to be read as clarifying the whole position and must be understood to have been incorporated in the enactment by the Legislature by way of abundant caution and not by way of limiting the ambit and scope of the Spe- cial Rules. Courts should examine every word of a statute in its context and use it in its widest sense. [402 E-G; 403 -B] 2.2 There should be a clear inconsistency between the two enactments before giving an overriding effect to the non-obstante clause but when the scope of the provisions of an earlier enactment is clear the same cannot be cut down by resort to non- obstante clause. [403 G-H] 23 Even the General Rules of which Rule 3(2) forms a part provide for promotion by selection. As a matter of fact Rules 1(3)(a), 3(1) and 4 also provide for the enforceabili- ty of the Special Rules. The very Rule 3 of the General Rules which provides for recruitment also provides for promotion by selection and further lays down that the meth- ods of recruitment shall be as specified in the Special http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 3 of 21 Rules, if any. The object of these Rules is to provide broadly for recruitment to services of all the departments and they are framed generally to cover situations that are not covered by the Special Rules of any particular depart- ment. In such a situation both the Rules including Rules 1(3)(a), 3(1) and 4 of General Rules should be read togeth- er. If so read it becomes plain that there is no inconsist- ency and that amendment by inserting Rule 3(2) is only an amendment to the General Rules and it cannot be interpreted as to supersede the Special Rules. The Amendment also must be read as being subject to Rules 1(3)(a), 3(1) and 4(2) of the General Rules themselves. The amendment cannot be read as abrogating all other Special Rules in respect of all departments. [403 H; 404 A-D] 2.4 Where there are no special rules to naturally the General Rules would be applicable. Just because there is a non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) it cannot be interpreted that the said ammendment to the General Rules though later in point of time would abrogate the special rule the scope of which is very clear and which co-exists particularly when no patent conflict or inconsistency can be spelt out. [404 D-E] 390 Maharaja Pratap Singh Bahadur v. Thakur Manmohan Dey and Ors., AIR 1966 SC 1931; Justiniane Augusto De Piedade Barre- to v. Antonic Vicente Da Fonseca and Others etc. [1979] 3 SCC 47, relied on. Muniswamy v. Superintendent of Police, ILR 1986 Karnata- ka 344, approved. Eileen Louise Nicolle v. John Winter Nicolle, (1922) I AC 284; In Re Chance, (1936) Ch. 266; Kunter v. Phillips, (1891) 2 Q.B. 267, referred to. 3. There is no doubt that a later statute may repeal an earlier one either expressly or by implication. In the instant case there is no express repeal of the Special Rule providing for promotion by selection. There is no patent inconsistency between the General and Special Rules but on the other hand they co-exist. Therefore, there is no scope whatsoever to infer the repeal by implication. [405 B,F] Aswini Kumar Ghosh and Ant. v. Arabinda Bose and Ant, [1953] SCR 1; The Dominion of India (Now the Union of India) and Anr. v. Shrinbai A. Irani and Anr, AIR 1954 SC 596; Union of India andAnother v. G.M. Kokil and Ors. [1984] Suppl. SCR 196; Chandavarkar Site Ratna Rao v.Ashalata S. Guram, [1986] 4 SCC 447; State of West Bengal v. Union of India, [1964] 1 SCR 371; Reserve Bank of India etc. v. Peerless General Finance and Investment Co. Ltd. & Ors, [1987] 1 SCC 424; Municipal Council Palai v. T.J. Joseph, AIR 1963 SC 1561, relied on. Muniswamy v. Superintendent of Police, ILR 1986 Karnata- ka 344, approved. Maxwell on The Interpretation of Statutes, Eleventh Edition page 168, relied on. 4. The Government is directed to consider the case of the appellant for promotion to the post of Deputy Commis- sioner of Transport on the basis of promotion by selection, as provided in the Special Rules namely Karnataka General Service (Motor Vehicles Branch) (Recruitment) Rules, 1976. [405 F-G] Per Yogeshwar Dayal, J. (dissenting): 1. It is clear from Rule 1 (3)(a) of the General Rules that the General Rules apply to recruitment to all State Services and to all posts in connection with the affairs of the State. A perusal of different rules in the General Rules makes it clear that the http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 4 of 21 391 general provisions which apply to recruitment to all posts under the Government are specified in those Rules instead of repeating them in each and every Special Rules of recruit- ment relating to different departments. It would be impossi- ble to limit the application of the General Rules only for recruitment to posts for which no Special Rules have been made. Thus Rule 1(3) of the General Rules which accepted the applicability of Special Rules is itself a part of General Rules and the non-obstante clause is not merely to what is mentioned to the contrary in the Special Rules but it is also notwithstanding anything contained in the General Rules itself. [410 B-D; 411 G] 2. By the wording of rule 3(2) of the General Rules it is clear that the Government took conscious and deliberate policy decision and gave a mandate to make only posts of Head of Departments, Additional Head of Departments as selection posts and all other posts on promotion will be filled by adopting the criterion of "seniority-cum-merit". To give effect to that policy decision instead of amending every Special Rules of recruitment relating to different State Civil Services, the Government made a provision in the General Rules by incorporating a non-obstante clause stat- ing that it would apply to all services and posts not- withstanding the provisions in the General Rules or in the Special Rules of the State. [410 E-G] 3.1 The selection of ’best’ very often has an element of chance which may not be very conducive to proper climate and harmony in service. Probably because of that experience the rule making authority thought it fit that the process of promotion by selection should be confined only to top posts and for rest of the posts the method should be promotion by adopting the principle of seniority-cure-merit. There is a clear mandate of latest intention of the rule making author- ity contained in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules and this must be respected by the Court. Court is not expert body in knowing what is the best method for selection and to assume that the purest method must be found by the Court and imple- mented even by violation of the Rule, will not be sound rule of construction of statute. [412 D-F] 3.2 It is not the function of the Court to examine the efficacy of one form of selection or the other. It is for the recruiting authority, namely, the Government to examine it and enforce it in the way it Likes. [413 C] 392 3.3 In the present case the respondent No. 2 was promoted after the amendment of Rule 3 of the General Rules and there is no dispute about his recruitment by way of promotion on the basis of seniority-cum-merit and that the earlier Special Rules which contemplated the promotion by selection were not followed in view of the latest intention clearly given by a positive mandate. [411 G-H] 3.4 As laid down by this Court in Ajay Kumar Baner- jee’s case a prior special law would yield to a later gener- al law if it satisfies either of the two conditions viz., that the two are inconsistent with each other;, that there is some express reference in the later to the earlier enact- ment. In the instant case, the special law contemplated promotion by ’selection’ whereas the later law, viz., Rule 3(2) of the general law contemplated promotion by seniority-cum-merit. The two are inconsistent with each other and if fulfills the first condition. Since the non- obstante clause in the later general law specifically men- tions its efficacy inspite of the Special Law, the second condition is also fulfilled. Thus, in this case, the later http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 5 of 21 general law prevails over the earlier Special Law, having fulfilled not one but both the conditions. [413 F-H; 414 A- B] 3.5 It was for the legislature to choose the method to indicate its intention. The Courts should not defeat their intention by over-looking it. Respondent No. 2 has been selected for promotion by following the General Rules amend- ing the Special Rules and it was strictly in accordance with law. [414 C-D] Ajay Kumar Banerjee and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors., [1984] 3 SCC 127, relied on. Maharaja Pratap Singh Bahadur v. Man Mohan Dev, AIR 1966 SC 1931; Muniswamv v. Superintendent of Police, ILR 1986 Karnataka 344, referred to. JUDGMENT: CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 5617 of 1990. From the Judgment and Order dated 9.8.1990 of the Karna- taka Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore in Application No. 3155 of 1989. P.P. Rao, S.R. Bhat, Alok Aggarwal and Ms. Mohini L. Bhat 1or the Appellant. 393 P. Chidambaram, M. Veerappa (N.P.) and K.H Nobin Singh for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by KULDIP SINGH, J. Even the General Law later in time, prevails over the earlier Special Law if it clearly and directly supersedes the said Special Law’-- is an unexcep- tionable proposition of law. K. Jayachandra Reddy, J. has interpreted Rule 3(2) of General Rules consistently with Rules 1(3)(a), 3(1) and 4(2) of the same Rules. Giving harmonious construction to various provisions of the General Rules the learned Judge has held that the General Rules do not supersede the Special Rules. Yogeshwar Dayal, J. on the other hand has focused his attention on the language of Rule 3(2) of the General Rules and has concluded that there is clear indication in the said Rule to supersede the Special Rules. I have given my thoughtful consideration to the reason- ing adopted by the learned Judges in their respective judg- ments. Rule 1(3)(a) of the General Rules, which lays down the extent and applicability of the General Rules, specifi- cally provides that the General Rules shall not be applica- ble to the State Civil Services for which there are express provisions under any law for the time being in force. When the General Rules were enforced the Special Rules were already holding the field. The Special Rules being "law" the application of the General Rules is excluded to the extent the field is occupied by the Special Rules. I do not agree that the non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules has an overriding effect on Rule, 1(3)(a) of the said Rules. With utmost respect to the erudite judgment prepared by Yogeshwar Dayal, J. I prefer the reasoning and the conclusions reached by K. Jayachandra Reddy, J. and agree with the judgment proposed by him. K.JAYACHANDRA REDDY, J. This appeal is directed against the order of the Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore dismiss- ing an application filed by the appellant. The principal question involved is whether SubRule (2) of Rule 3 of Karna- taka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 (’General Rules’ for short) has the overriding effect over http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 6 of 21 the Karnataka General Service (Motor Vehicles Branch) (Recruitment) Rules, 1976 (’Special Rules’ for short). For a better appreciation of the question it becomes necessary to state few facts. The appellant was appointed initially as Inspector of Motor’ Vehicle and was promoted as Assistant Regional Transport Officer in the 394 year 1976 in which year the Special Rules were framed. In the year 1981 the appellant was promoted as Regional Trans- port Officer. Some of the General Rules of 1977 were amended in the year 1982 and Sub-Rule 2 of Rule 3 was inserted in the said Rules. In the year 1989 the second respondent was promoted as Deputy Commissioner of Transport on seniority- cure-merit basis alone as purported to have been provided in new Rule 3(2) of General Rules. Being aggrieved by the same the appellant filed an Application No. 3155/89 before the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal questioning the promotion of second respondent on the ground that the promotion to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Transport should be by selec- tion from the cadre of Regional Transport Officers and not merely on seniority-cum-merit basis. His application was dismissed by the Tribunal holding that Rule 3(2) of General Rules which was introduced later overrides the earlier Special Rules. It is this order which is questioned in this appeal. Shri P.P. Rao, learned counsel appearing for the appel- lant contended that the Special Rules are exclusively meant to govern the recruitment and promotion of officers of various cadres of the Motor Vehicle Department and the General Rules which generally regulate the recruitment of all State Civil Services broadly even though later in point of time cannot abrogate the Special Rules and that they are not meant to do so since the Special Rules also are very much in force inasmuch as they are not superseded. Shri P. Chidambaram, learned counsel for the State of Karnataka contended that the non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules which was introduced later clearly indicate the intention of he Legislature to supersede the Special Rules and promotions from the cadre of Regional Transport Officer to that of Deputy Commissioner of Transport could only be on the basis of seniority-cam-merit and not by election. From the rival contentions it emerges that the real question involved is one of construction of non-ob- stante clause in Rule 3(2) and its fleet on the Special Rules providing for promotion to the post of Deputy -Commis- sioner of Transport by selection from the cadre of Regional Transport Officers. We shall now refer to the relevant Special and General Rules. The special Rules were framed in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Con- stitution of India in the year 1976. The special Rules of recruitment for the category of post of Deputy Commissioner of Transport reads thus: 395 Category of Method of Minimum posts recruitment Qualification 1. 2. 3. Deputy Transport By promotion by Must have put in not Commissioner selection from the less than five years of cadre of Regional service in cadre of Transport Officers Regional Transport Officers." It can be seen that this part of Special Rules clearly http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 7 of 21 provides for promotion to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Transport by selection from the cadre of Regional Transport Officers who have put in not less than five years of serv- ice. The General Rules were framed in the year 1977 and Rule 3 reads as under: "Method of recruitment-(1) Except as otherwise provided in these rules or any other rules specially made in this behalf, recruitment to any service or post shall be made by direct recruitment which may be either by competitive examination or by selection, or by promotion which may be either by selection or on the basis of seniority- cure- merit. The methods of recruitment and qualifications shall be as specified in the rules of recruitment special- ly made in that behalf,’ provided that in respect of direct recruitment to any service or post when the method of recruitment is not specified in the rules of recruitment specially made, the method of recruitment be by selection after an interview by the Commission, the Advisory of Selection Committee or the Appointing Authori- ty as the case may be. Provided further that no person shall be eligible for promotion unless he has satisfac- torily completed the period of probation or officiation, as the case may be, in the post held by him. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules or in the rules of recruitment specially made in respect of any service or (a) the promotion to the post of Head of Department or the 396 post of an Additional Head of Department, if it is in a grade equivalent to that of the Head of Department concerned, shall be by selection; Provided that for the purpose of promotion by selection, the number of persons to be consid- ered shall be such number of persons eligible for promotion in the order of seniority, as is equal to five times the number of vacancies to be filled. (b) the promotion to all other posts shall be on the basis of seniority-cam-merit." (Emphasis supplied) It may be noted that Sub-Rule 3(2) with which we are mainly concerned was inserted in the year 1982. Shri Chidam- baram strongly relying on the non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) with which this Sub-Rule begins, contended that this general rule dearly supersedes the special law and there- fore, according to him, the Tribunal was right in holding that the promotion to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Transport could be only on the basis of seniority-cum-merit. It is true that a simple reading of Rule 3(2) appears to lay down that notwithstanding anything contained in the General Rules or in the Special Rules, the promotion to the post of a Head or Additional Head of a Department only shall be by selection and that the promotion to all other posts shall be on the basis Of seniority- cum-merit. This clause (b) of Sub-Rule (2) is in general terms and as already noted the General Rules indicate that they regulate general recruit- ment to all the Karnataka State Civil Services broadly. It http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 8 of 21 is not in dispute that just like the Special Rules providing for recruitment of the Transport Department there are such special rules in respect of many other departments also. It is therefore clear that while General Rules broadly indicate that they regulate general recruitment including promotion to all the State Civil Services but at the same time each Department has its own Special Rules of recruitment and they are co-existing. Such Special Rules of recruitment for the Motor Vehicles Department are not repealed by any provision of the General Rules which are later in point of time. As a matter of fact Rule 21 which provides for repeal does not in any manner indicate that any of the Special Rules stood repealed. It is in this background that we have to consider the interpretation of non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules. At this juncture it is necessary to note that some of the rules of the General Rules also provide for promotion by way of selection and that Special Rules providing for such promotion by selection should be adhered 397 to. They are Rule 1(3)(a), the first part of Rule 3 and Rule 4 which are existing. In Sub-rule 1(3)(a) of the General Rules, we find the following "1(3)(a) These rules shall apply to recruit- ment to all State Services and to all posts in connection with the affairs of the State of Karnataka and to members of all State Civil Services and to the holders of posts whether temporary or permanent except to the extent otherwise expressly provided- (i) by or under any law for the time being in force; or XX XX (emphasis supplied) This is the opening rule of the General Rules and it abundantly makes it clear that the rest of the rules are subject to any other rules expressly providing for recruit- ment. Then in clause (1) of Rule (3) of the General Rules we find the words "Except as otherwise provided in these Rules or any other rules specially made in this behalf recruitment to any service or post shall be made by direct recruitment which may be either by competitive examination or by selec- tion or by promotion which may be either by selection or on the basis of seniority-cum-merit. The methods of recruit- ment and qualification shall be as specified in the rule of recruitment specially made in that behalf." This part of General Rule 3 provides for recruitment by way of promotion either by selection or on the basis of seniority-cum-merit as specified in the said Rules of recruitment specially made. Further the opening words of clause (1) "Except as otherwise provided in these Rules or any other Rules spe- cially made" give a clue that the special rules would govern and regulate the method of recruitment including promotion by way of selection. Further Rule 4 of the General Rules which lays down the procedure of appointment contains Sub- Rule 2 which reads as under: "4. Procedure of appointment - subject to the provisions of these rules, appointment to any service or post shall be made - xxxx xxxx xxxx (2) in the case of recruitment by promotion -- (a) if it is to a post to be filled by promo- tion by, selection, by selection of a 398 person, on the basis of merit and suitability http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 9 of 21 in all respects to discharges the duties of the post with due regard to seniority from among persons eligible for promotion. (b) if it is to a post other than that re- ferred to in sub-clause (a) by selection of a person on the basis of seniority-cure-merit, that is, seniority subject to fitness of the candidate to discharge the duties of the post, from among persons eligible for promotion." (emphasis supplied) Though Rule 3(2) of the General Rules is inserted later, the above mentioned Rules remain undisturbed and they co-exist. They provide for recruitment and promotion by selection to certain categories of posts and for others on the basis of seniority-cure-merit. From a combined reading of these provisions of General Rules it follows that re- cruitment to any service by promotion as regulated by Special Rules can be by way of selection. "Then the question is whether Rule 3(2) of the General Rules which is intro- duced in 1982 particularly providing the method of promotion by selection to the post of heads and additional heads of departments has altogether dispensed with the promotion by selection to all other posts and whether, the non-obstante clause in this rule, in these circumstances can be inter- preted as to have the overriding effect as contended by the learned counsel for the respondents. The non-obstante clause is sometimes appended to a section or a rule in the begin- ning with a view to give the enacting part of that section or rule in case of conflict, an overriding effect over the provisions or act mentioned in that clause. Such a clause is usually used in the provision to indicate that the said provision should prevail despite anything to the contrary in the provision mentioned in such non-obstante clause. But it has to be noted at this stage that we are concerned with the enforceability of special law on the subject inspire of the general law. In Maxwell on the Interpretation or Signites, Eleventh Edition at page 168, this principle of law is stated as under: "A general later law does not abrogate an earlier special one by mere implication. Generalia specialibus non derogant, or, in other words," where there are general words in a later Act capable of reasonable and sensible application without extending them to subjects specially dealt with by earlier legislation, you are not to hold that earlier and special legislation indirectly repealed, altered, or derogated from merely by force of such 399 general words, without any indication of a particular intention to do so. In such cases it is presumed to have only general cases in view, and not particular cases which have been already otherwise provided for by the special Act." In Maharaja Pratap Singh Bahadur v. Thakur Manmohan Dey and ors. ,AIR 1966 S.C. 1931, applying this principle it is held that general law does not abrogate earlier special law by mere implication. In Eileen Louise Nicoole v. John Winter Nicolle, [1992] 1 AC 284, Lord Phillimore observed as under: "It is a sound principle of all juris- prudence that a prior particular law is not easily to be held to be abrogated by a poste- rior law, expressed in general terms and by the apparent generality of its language ap- http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 10 of 21 plicable to and covering a number of cases, of which the particular law is but one. This, as a matter of jurisprudence, as understood in England, has been laid down in a great number of cases, whether the prior law be an express statute, or be the underlying common or customary law of the country. Where general words in a later Act are capable of reasonable and sensible application without extending them to subjects specially dealt with by earlier legislation, that earlier and special legislation is not to be held indi- rectly repealed, altered, or derogated from merely by force of such general words, without any indication of a particular intention to do so." In Justiniane Augusto De Piedade Barreto v. Antonio Vicente Da Fortseca and others etc., [1979] 3 SCC 47, this Court observed that A law which is essentially general in nature may contain special provisions on certain matters and in respect of these matters it would be classified as a special law. Therefore unless the special law is abrogated by express repeal or by making provisions which arc wholly inconsistent with it, the special law cannot be held to have been abrogated by mere implication. I have already noted that even in the General Rules the promotion by selection is provided for and if there are any special rules in that regard they are not abrogated except by an express repeal. I shall now examine whether the interpretation of non- obstante clause in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules as given by the Tribunal is warranted. The Tribunal has held that the non-obstante clause which was 400 introduced in the General Rules clearly indicates the inten- tion to supersede the special law. The Tribunal has also noted even a later general law provision can override earli- er special law if it clearly indicates the intention to supersede the special law. As a proposition of law one cannot dispute this part of the finding but I am not able to agree with the finding of the Tribunal that the non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) clearly abrogates earlier special law. This very question was considered by Karnataka High Court in Muniswamy v. Superintendent of Police, ILR 1986 Karnataka 344 (Vol. 36). In that case also the same General Rules and particularly Rule 3(2) inserted later came up for consideration. The Special Rules were that of Karnataka State Police State Recruitment Rules, 1967. The Director General of Police issued a circular for the purpose of recruitment of Head Constables on purely seniority-cum-merit basis. It was contended that the posts of the Head Consta- bles have to be filled up by promotion by selection as provided in the Special Rules and Rule 3(2) of the General Rules cannot have an overriding effect inspire of a non- obstante clause. The Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court held that Sub-rule (2) of Rule (3) which is an amend- ment to the General Rules cannot be treated as an amendment to the Special Police Rules and that Rule 3(2) cannot be read as amending all other special rules of recruitment of all other department of Government in general. It also further observed that this amendment to the General Rules must be read as subordinate to the application of Rules declared by Rule 1(3) of the Rules and cannot be read as enlarging the scope. This judgment rendered by the High Court in the year 1986 has become final. The fact that the http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 11 of 21 State did not appeal or repeal the Special Rules suitably in spite of the decision clinchingly shows that it accepted this position. In Aswini Kumar Ghosh and Another v. Arabinda Bose and Another, [1953] SCR 1, it was observed as under: "It should first be ascertained what the enacting part of the section provides on a fair construction of the words used according to their natural and ordinary meaning, and the non obstante clause is to be understood as operating to set aside as no longer valid anything contained in relevant existing laws which is inconsistent with the new enactment." It was further held that: 401 "Nor can we read the non obstante clause as specifically repealing only the particular provisions which the learned Judges below have been at pains to pick out from the Bar Coun- cils Act and the Original Side Rules of the Calcutta, and Bombay High Courts. If, as we have pointed out, the enacting part of section 2 covers all Advocates of the Supreme Court, the non obstante clause can reasonably be read as overriding "anything contained" in any relevant existing law which is inconsistent with the new enactment, although the draftsman appears to have had primarily in his mind a particular type of law as conflicting with the new Act. The enacting part of a statute must, where it is clear, be taken to control the non obstante clause where both cannot be read harmoniously; for, even apart from such clause, a later law abrogates earlier laws clearly inconsistent with it. Posteriors leges priores contrarias abrogant (Broomo’s Legal Maxims, 10th Edn., p.347)." (emphasis supplied) In The Dominion of India (Now the Union of India) and another v. Shribai A. Irani and another, AIR 1954 S,C. 596, it was observed as under: "While recognising the force of this argument it is however necessary to observe that al- though ordinarily there should be a close approximation between the non-obstante clause and the operative part of the section, the non-obstante clause need not necessarily and always be co-extensive with the operative part, so as to have the effect of cutting down the clear terms of an enactment. If the words of the enactment are clear and are capable of only one interpretation on a plain and gram- matical construction of the words thereof a non- obstante clause cannot cut down the construction and restrict the scope of its operation. In such cases the non-obstante clause has to be read as clarifying the whole position and must be understood to have been incorporated in the enactment by the Legisla- ture by way of abundant caution and not by way of limiting the ambit and scope of the opera- tive part of the enactment". (emphasis supplied) In Union of India and Another. v. G.M. Kokil and 0 hers. [1984] http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 12 of 21 402 Suppl. SCR 196, it was observed as under: "It is well-known that a non obstante clause is a legislative device which is usually employed to give overriding effect to certain provisions over some contrary provisions that may be found either in the same enactment or some other enactment, that is to say, to avoid the operation and effect of all contrary provisions." In Chandavarkar Sita Ratna Rao v. Ashalata S. Guram, [ 1986] 4 SCC 447, the scope of non-obstante clause is ex- plained in the following words: "A clause beginning with the expression "notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in some particular provision in the Act or in some particular Act or in any law for the time being in force, or in any contract" is more often than not appended to a section in the beginning with a view to give the enacting part of the section in case of con- flict an overriding effect over the provision of the Act or the contract mentioned in the non obstante clause. It is equivalent to saying that in spite of the provision of the Act or any other Act mentioned in the non obstante clause or any contract or document mentioned the enactment following it will have its full operation or that the provisions embraced in the non obstante clause would not be an impediment for an operation of the enactment." On a conspectus of the above authorities it emerges that the non-obstante clause is appended to a provision with a view to give the enacting part of the provision an overrid- ing effect in case of a conflict. But the non-obstante clause need not necessarily and always be co-extensive with the operative part so as to have the effect of cutting down the clear terms of an enactment and if the words of the enactment are clear and are capable of a clear interpreta- tion on a plain and grammatical construction of the words the non-obstante clause cannot cut down the construction and restrict the scope of its operation. In Such cases the non- obstante clause has to be read as clarifying the whole position and must be understood to have been incorporated in the enactment by the Legislature by way of abundant caution and not by way of limiting the ambit and scope of the Spe- cial Rules. Further, the influence of a non-obstante clause has to be considered on the basis of the context also in which it is used. In State of West Bengal v. Union of India, [1964] 1 SCR 371, it is observed as under: "The Court must ascertain the intention of the legislature by 403 directing its attention not merely to the clauses to be construed but to the entire statute; it must compare the clause with the other parts of the law and the setting in which the clause to be interpreted occurs." It is also well-settled that the Court should examine every word of a statute in its context and to use context in its widest sense. In Reserve Bank of India etc. v. Peerless General Finance and Investment Co. Ltd. & Ors.. [1987] 1 SCC 424, it is observed that "That interpretation is best which http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 13 of 21 makes the textual interpretation match the contextual". In this case, Chinnapa Reddy, J. noting the importance of the context in which every word is used in the matter of inter- pretation of statutes held thus: Interpretation must depend on the text and the context. They are the bases of interpretation. One may well say if the text is the texture, context is what gives the colour. Neither can be ignored. Both are important. That interpretation is best which makes the textual interpretation match the contextual. A statute is best interpreted when we know why it was enacted. With this knowl- edge, the statute must be read, first as a whole and then section by section, clause by clause, phrase by phrase and word by word. If a statute is looked at, in the context of its enactment, with the glasses of the statute- maker, provided by such context, its scheme, the sections, clauses, phrases and words may take colour and appear different than when the statute is looked at without the glasses provided by the context. With these glasses we must look at the Act as a whole and discover what each section, each clause, each phrase and each word is meant and designed to say as to fit into the scheme of the entire Act. No part of a statute and no word of a statute can be construed in isolation. Statutes have to be construed so that every word has a place and everything is in its place". If we examine the scope of Rule 3(2) particularly along with other General Rules, the context in which Rule 3(2) is made is very clear. It is not enacted to supersede the Special Rules. As already noted, there should be a clear inconsistency between the two enactments before giving an overriding effect to the non-obstante clause but when the scope of the provisions of an earlier enactment is clear the same cannot be cut down by resort to non-obstante clause. In the instant case we have noticed that even the General Rules of which Rule 404 3(2) forms a part provide for promotion by selection. As a matter of fact Rules 1(3)(a) and 3(1) and 4 also provide for the enforceability of the Special Rules. The very Rule 3 of the General Rules which provides for recruitment also pro- vides for promotion by selection and further lays down that the methods of recruitment shall be as specified in the Special Rules, if any. In this background if we examine the General Rules it becomes dear that the object of these Rules only is to provide broadly for recruitment to services of all the departments and they are framed generally to cover situations that are not covered by the Special Rules of any particular department. In such a situation both the Rules including Rule 1(3)(a), 3(1)and 4 of general rules should be read together. If so read it becomes plain that there is no inconsistency and that amendment by inserting Rule 3(2) is only an amendment to the General Rules and it cannot be interpreted as to supersede the Special Rules. The Amendment also must be read as being subject to Rules 1(3)(a), 3(1) and 4(2) of the General Rules themselves. The amendment cannot be read as abrogating all other Special Rules in respect of all departments. In a given case where there are no Special Rules then naturally the General Rules would be http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 14 of 21 applicable. Just because there is a non-obstante clause, in Rule 3(2) it cannot be interpreted that the said amendment to the General Rules though later in point of time would abrogate the special rule the scope of which is very clear and which co-exists particularly when no patent conflict or inconsistency can be spelt out. As already noted Rules 1(3)(a), 3(1) and 4 of the General Rules themselves provide for promotion by selection and for enforceability of the Special Rules in that regard. Therefore there is no patent conflict or inconsistency at all between the General and the Special Rules. Shri P. Chidambaram, in this context, however, submit- ted that the intention of the Legislature is to do away with promotion by selection and instead of amending every special rule, the General Rule in the form of Rule 3(2) is inserted and therefore by virtue of non- obstante clause all other special rules governing the recruitment to all departments stand abrogated. I am unable to agree. If such was the intention of the amendment then I see no reason as to why even in the General Rules as noted above the promotion by selection is recognised and provided for and these Rules remain unaffected. This is also clear from the fact that the Government did not even appeal against the High Court deci- sion rendered in Muniswamy’s case. Shri P. Chidambaram, however, further submitted that a plain reading of Rule 3(2) which is later in point of time would clearly indicate that 405 the Special Rule providing for promotion by selection is repealed at least by implication. There is no doubt that a later statute may repeal an earlier one either expressly or by implication. In the instant case we have already noted that there is no express repeal of the Special Rule provid- ing for promotion by selection. The Courts have not favoured such repeal by implication. On the other hand it is indicat- ed by the courts that if earlier and later statutes can reasonably be construed in such a way that both can be . given effect to, the same must be done. In Re Chance [1936] Ch. 266 Farewell, J. observed that "If it is possible it is my duty so to read the section ..... as not to effect an implied repeal of the earlier Act". In Kunter v. Phi/lips [1891] 2 Q.B. 267 it is held that: "It is only when the provisions of a later enactment are so inconsistent with or repugnant to the provisions of an earlier one then only the two cannot stand together and the earlier stands abrogated by the later". In Municipal Council Palai v. T.J. Joseph, AIR 1963 SC 1561, this Court has observed that there is a presumption against a repeal by implication; and the reason of this rule is based on the theory that the Legislature while enacting a law has a complete knowledge of the existing laws on the same subject matter and therefore, when it does not provide a repealing provision, it gives out an intention not to repeal the existing legislation. It is further observed that such a presumption can be rebutted and repeal by necessary implication can be inferred only when the provisions of the later Act are so inconsist- ent with or repugnant to the provisions of the earlier Act, that the two cannot stand together. I am satisfied that there is no patent inconsistency between the General and Special Rules but on the other hand they co-exist. Therefore, there is no scope whatsoever to infer the repeal by implication as contended by the learned counsel Shri. Chidambaram. In the result the appeal is allowed and the Government http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 15 of 21 is directed to consider the case of the appellant for promo- tion to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Transport on the basis of promotion by selection, as provided in the Special Rules namely Karnataka General Service (Motor Vehicles Branch) (Recruitment) Rules, 1976. In the circumstances of the case there will be no order as to costs. YOGESHWAR DAYAL, J. I have had the pleasure of going through the judgment prepared by my learned brother, Justice K.J. Reddy. However, with due respect, 1 regret 1 have not been able to persuade myself to 406 agree to either his reasoning or the conclusion. There is no quarrel that general principle is that special law prevails over general law but the learned Judge has failed to note that even there is an exception to such a general law, namely -- it is a later general law which prevails over the earlier special law if it clearly indicates the intention to supersede the special law. This appeal by Special Leave has been filed by Sri R.S. Raghunath against the order of the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore, dated 9th August, 1990. Before the Tribunal the appellant sought a declaration that the promo- tion of Shri I.K. Devaiah, respondent No. 2 herein, was illegal and to direct the respondent No. 1 to consider the case of the appellant for promotion to the cadre of Deputy Transport Commissioner with all consequential benefits. The Tribunal dismissed the application filed by the appellant. The Tribunal was called upon to construe Rule 3(2) of the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 as amended in June, 1982 (hereinafter referred to as "the General Rules’)The Tribunal, after considering the general Rules took the view that the non-obstante clause in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules which was introduced after framing of the Karnataka General Service (Motor Vehicles Branch) (Recruitment) Rules, 1976 (in short ’the Special Rules’) clearly indicates the intention to supersede the special law. The Tribunal took the view that the general principle that the special law prevails over the general law has one exception and that is a later general law prevails over earlier special law if it clearly indicates the intention to supersede the special law. The Tribunal held that a non- obstante clause in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules, which was enacted after the Special Rules, clearly indicates the intention to supersede the special law. The controversy rises in the following circumstances. The Special Rules came into force on or about 10th December, 1976 on the publication of the same in the Karna- taka Gazette (Extraordinary). It consisted of only two Rules- (I) and (II). The first Rule gave the ’title and commencement’ and the second Rule dealt with the ’method of recruitment and minimum qualifications’. There was a sched- ule attached to Rule 1I. In the schedule for the post speci- fied in column 1 thereof the method of recruitment and minimum qualification were specified in corresponding en- tries in columns 2 and 3 thereof. It dealt with roughly 35 categories of posts. I may mention that there was only one post, namely the post of Deputy Transport Commissioner for which the method of recruitment was by selection from the cadre of Regional Transport Officers who must have put in not less than five years of service in that cadre. 407 For all the rest of the posts in the schedule there was no provision for recruitment by way of promotion by selection. For all the posts the method of recruitment was either by promotion or by deputation or by direct recruitment, or both http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 16 of 21 by direct recruitment and promotion or by merely posting a suitable officer or by direct recruitment through employment exchange etc. The only recruitment to the post of Deputy Transport Commissioner was by method of promotion by selec- tion. At the time when the aforesaid Special Rules were enact- ed the Karnataka State Civil Services (General Recruitment ) Rules, 1957 (in short the General Rules of 1957 ) were in operation which were repelled by the General Rules. So long as the General Rules of 1957 continued the Special Rules continued to govern the method of recruitment of the posts as specified in the schedule attached to the said Special Rules. The General Rules of 1957, as stated earlier, were repelled by the General Rules which came into force on 25th June, 1977. Rule 1(3)(a) of the General Rules provided thus:- "1.(3) (a) These rules shall apply to re- cruitment to all State Services and to all posts in connection with the affairs of the State of Karnataka and to members of all State Civil Services and to the holders of posts whether temporary or permanent except to the extent otherwise expressly provided- (i) by or under any law for the time being in force; or (ii) in respect of any member of such service by a contract or agreement subsisting between such member and the State Government". It is thus clear from the provision of Rule 1(3)(a) that the General Rules were applicable for all purposes to mem- bers of all State Civil Services including the Motor Vehi- cles Branch except to the extent otherwise expressly provid- ed by the Special Rules. The Special Rules, as mentioned earlier, dealt with the method of recruitment and qualifica- tion for the Motor Vehicles Branch and so far as the post of Deputy Transport Commissioner was concerned, the method of recruitment was "promotion by selection". The Special Rules dealt with nothing else. It is also clear from Rule 1(3) of the General Rules itself as to what is the scope of its applicability. It was applicable to all posts except to the extent otherwise expressly provided for by the Special Rules. Rule 3(1) of the General 408 Rules, before the insertion of sub-rule (2), reads as fol- lows:- "3. Method of recruitment - (1) Except as otherwise provided in these rules or any other rules specially made in this behalf, recruit- ment to any service or post shall be made by direct recruitment which may be either by competitive examination or by selection, or by promotion which may be either by selection or on the basis of seniority-cum-merit. The methods of recruitment and qualifications shall be as specified in the rules of recruit- ment specially made in that behalf: Provided that in respect of direct recruitment to any service or post when the method of recruitment is not specified in the rules of recruitment specially made, the method of recruitment shall be by selection after an interview by the Commission, the Advisory or Selection Committee or the Appointing Authori- http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 17 of 21 ty as the case may be. Provided further that no person shall be eligible for promotion unless he has satisfac- torily completed the period of probation or officiation as the case may be, in the post held by him." The substantive part of Rule 3(1) described various methods of recruitment but stated that the methods of re- cruitment and qualifications shall be as specified in the rules of recruitment specially made in that behalf. The first proviso described that when in the Special Rules for recruitment no provision is made for direct recruitment, the method of recruitment shall be by selection after an inter- view by the Commission, the Advisory or Selection Committee to the Appointing Authority, as the case may be. The second proviso to Rule 3(1) contemplated that no person shall be eligible for promotion unless he has satisfied three com- pleted years of probation or officiation, as the case may be, in the post held by him. The second proviso is by way of abundant caution in view of the Karnataka Civil Services (Probation) Rules, 1977 (hereinafter referred to as ’the Probation Rules’) because of Probation Rules contemplated that the period of probation shall be as may be provided for in the rules of recruitment specially made for any service or post, which shall not be less than two years’. The Proba- tion Rules also contemplated declaration of satisfactory completion of probation at the end of the prescribed period of probation as extended or reduced by the appointing au- thority. It may be useful to note that Rule 19 of the Gener- al Rules also dealt with probation and appointments by promotion. It is clear from reading of Rules 1, 2 and 409 3, as originally enacted, of the General Rules that so far as the Special Rules expressly provided to any particular branch of the State Service that was to prevail over the General Rules. Rule 3A, as amended, provided for qualifica- tion in respect of ex-servicemen, irrespective of the provi- sions of the Special Rules. Rule 4 provided the procedure of appointment. It also provided that if the appointment is by way of selection, how a selection has to be conducted and if the recruitment is by way of promotion, how it has to be done. Rule 5 provided for disqualification for appointment. Rule 6 provided the age limit for appointment. Rule 8 pro- vided for reservation of appointments for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward tribes etc. Rule 9 contained provision for ex-servicemen and physically handicapped notwithstanding anything contained in the Special Rules. Rule 10 contemplated conditions relating to suitability and certificates of character. Rule 11 provided for procedure how the applications have to be made by the Government servants for recruitments. Rule 16 provided for relaxation notwithstanding the provisions contained in the General Rules or the Special Rules. Rule 16 A provided for appoint- ment by transfer. Rule 17 dealt with appointment by direct recruitment or by promotion in certain cases notwithstanding anything contained in the General or Special Rules. All these Rules arc applicable to all the posts except to the extent as contemplated by Rule(3) of the General Rules. This was the position at the time of enactment of General Rules in 1977. appears that Rule 3 of the General Rules was amended and subrule (2) was added to Rule 3. Rule 3(2) of the Gener- al Rules, so added in June, 1982, reads thus: "3(2). Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules or in the rules of recruitment http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 18 of 21 specially made in respect of any service or post-- (a) the promotion to the post of Head of Department of the post of an Additional Head of Department, if it is in a grade equivalent to that of the Head of Department concerned, shall be by selection: Provided that for the purpose of promotion by selection, the number of persons to be consid- ered shall be such number of persons eligible for promotion in the order of seniority, as is equal to five times the number of vacancies to be filled. 410 (b) the promotion to all other posts shah be on the basis of seniority-cum-merit". We are really concerned with the scope of Rule 3(2) of the General Rules for proper decision of this case. Both the General Rules and the Special Rules have been framed by the Government of Karnataka in exercise of powers under Article 309 of the Constitution of India. It is clear from Rule 1(3)(a) of the General Rules that the General Rules apply to recruitment to all State Services and to all posts in connection with the affairs of the State. A perusal of different rules in the General Rules makes it clear that the general provisions which apply to recruitment to all posts under the Government are specified in those Rules instead of repeating them in each and every Special Rules of recruitment relating to different depart- ments. For example, provisions relating to age limit for recruitment, disqualification for recruitment, joining time etc. should find place in Special Rules and normally they should be uniform for all categories of posts. Instead of repeating them in all Special Rules of each department they have been put in one set of rules known as the General Rules. It would be impossible to limit the application of the General Rules only for recruitment to posts for which no Special Rules have been made. If that was so, what arc the provisions relating to disqualification, age limit, joining time etc. for posts for which Special Rules governing of recruitment have been made ? There are no other rules gov- erning the subject except the General Rules. By the wording of Rule 3(2) of the General Rules it is clear that the Government took conscious and deliberate policy decision and gave a mandate to make only posts of Head of Departments, Additional Head of Departments as selection posts and all other posts on promotion will be filled by the criterion of "seniority-cum-merit’. To give effect to that policy decision instead of amending every Special Rules of recruitment relating to different State Civil Services, the Government made a provi- sion in the General Rules by incorporating a non-obstante clause stating that it would apply to all services and posts j notwithstanding the provisions in the General Rules or in the Special Rules of the State. This aspect is absolutely clear by a mere reading of Rule 3(2) of the General Rules. In the case of Maharaja Pratap Singh Bahadur v. Man Mohan Dev. AIR 1966 SC 1931, the Supreme Court approved the following quotation from Maxwell on Interpretation of Stat- ute:/ 411 "A general later law does not abrogate an earlier special one by mere implication. Generalia specialibus non derogant, or, in other words, "where there are general words in http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 19 of 21 a later Act capable of reasonable and sensible application without extending them to subjects specially dealt. with by earlier legislation, you are not to hold that earlier and special legislation indirectly repealed, altered, or derogated from merely by force of such general words, without any indication of a particular intention to do so." In such cases it is presumed to have only general cases in view, and not particular cases which have been already otherwise provided for by the special Act?’ It is stated therein that for the general principle that the special law prevails over general law there is one exception and that is a later general law prevails over earlier special law if it clearly indicates the intention to supersede the special law. The non-obstante clause intro- duced by amending Rule 3 of the General Rules by adding Rule 3(2) which was enacted after the Special Rules indicates the clear intention to supersede the Special Law to the extent that for the posts which arc not Head of the Departments or Additional Head of Departments the promotion, if provided for by way of selection, would mean on the basis of seniori- ty-cum-merit and not on the basis of merit only. As I have noticed earlier if we look at the Special Law it contained various methods of recruitment to about 35 posts mentioned in the Schedule annexed thereto but there is only one post for which the promotion was proposed by selec- tion. Surely it would have been flimsy way of drafting if one particular clause of a particular Special Law was sought to be individually repelled by enacting a repealing clause for that purpose. To get over that the non-obstante clause is introduced later on by the same authority which enacted both the General and Special Laws to give its latest man- date. The latest mandate cannot be ignored. Rule 1(3) of the General Rules which accepted the ap- plicability of Special Rules is itself a part of General Rules and the non-obstante clause is not merely to what is mentioned to the contrary in the Special Rules but it is also notwithstanding anything contained in the General Rules itself. In the present case the respondent No. 2 herein was promoted after the amendment of Rule 3 of the General Rules and there is no dispute about his recruitment by way of promotion on the basis of seniority-cummerit and that the earlier Special Rules which contemplated the promotion by selection were not followed in view of the latest intention clearly given 412 by a positive mandate. The learned counsel for the appellant strongly placed reliance on the decision of the Karnataka High Court in the case of Muniswamy v. Superintendent of Police, dated 18th July, 1986 (Annexure ’F’ pages 66 to 108 of the paper-book). That decision dealt with the General Rules and the Special Rules in relation to Karnataka State Police Service (Re- cruitment) Rules,. 1967. We have to construe the meaning of Clause 3(2) for ascertaining the object and purpose which the legislature had in view in enacting the said provision and the context thereof. It appears to me that the Special Rules for re- cruitment to some of the services had been in force provid- ing a particular method of either selection or promotion. It appears that because of the experience the Government had of http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 20 of 21 its working, it was thought proper to change this policy, namely - instead of providing selection on the basis of merit to every post, in certain posts, it thought it fit to give due weightage to seniority and merit instead of having the ’best’. The selection of ’best’ very often has an ele- ment of chance which may not be very conducive to proper climate and harmony in service. It appears that because of that experience the rule making authority thought it fit that the process of promotion by selection should be con- fined only to top posts and for rest of the posts the method should be promotion by adopting the principle of seniority- cum-merit. I find that there is a clear mandate of latest intention of the rule making authority contained in Rule 3(2) of the General Rules and this must be respected by the Court. The Courts are not expert body in knowing what is the best method for selection and to assume that the purest method must be found by the Court and implemented even by violation of the Rule, will not be sound rule of construc- tion of statute. I am afraid I have not been able to persuade myself to agree with the reasoning of the learned Division Bench in the aforesaid case of Muniswamy v. Superintendent of Police. The learned Division Bench had restricted the scope of Rule 3(2) to only such officers whose "service or post is not regulated by any Special Rules. then and then only the posts of Head of Departments of Government as defined in 1982 Rules had to be filled by promotion by selection and all other posts in such Departments have to be filled by promotion on seniority-cure-merit basis". The Division Bench also examined the merits and demerits of various forms of selection at great length and took the view in paragraph 41 of the judgment as under: "We were shocked and surprised when the learned Govern- 413 ment Advocate submitted before us that he was supporting the stand urged by Sri Bhat and the circular issued by the Director under instruc- tions from Government. We have no doubt that the Government had not really reflected on the untenable stand it was urging before this Court which, if accepted would have meant death knell to .efficiency in the services of the State." I am surprised with this type of approach. It is not the function of the Court to examine the efficacy of one form of selection or the other. It is for the recruiting authority, namely the Government to examine it and enforce it in the way it like. To use such an expression "death knell to efficiency" really gives the mind of the Court that it wants to enforce the particular policy even though the latest mandate is for change of the policy in the name of efficien- cy. This type of reasoning really ignores the specific provision of the non-obstante clause applying to even "in the rules of recruitment specially made in respect of any service or post". In Ajay Kumar Banerjee and others v. Union of India and others, [1984] 3 SCC 127 at page 153 Sabyasachi Mukharji, J. (as His Lordship then was) observed thus:-- "As mentioned herein before if the scheme was held to be valid, then the question what is the general law and what is the special law and which law in case of conflict would pre- vail would have arisen and that would have necessitated the application of the principle http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 21 of 21 "Generalia specialibus non derogant". The general rule to be followed in ease of con- flict between the two statutes is that the later abrogates the earlier one. In other words, a prior special law would yield to a later general law, if either of the two fol- lowing conditions is satisfied. (i) The two are inconsistent with each other. (ii) There is some express reference in the later to the earlier enactment. If either of these two conditions is ful- filled, the later law, even though general, would prevail". It is thus clear that both the conditions mentioned by Mukharji, J., 414 speaking for the Bench are fulfilled. In this case whether the promotion has to be by the method of selection or sim- plicitor promotion on the basis of seniority-cum-merit, is the contest. The Special Law contemplated promotion by selection whereas the later law contemplates promotion by the method of seniority-cum-merit. The two are inconsistent with each other. This fulfills the first condition. So far as the second condition is concerned there is an express reference in the later general law "in the earlier enact- ment". But as per the proposition of Mukharji, J., if either of the two conditions are fulfilled the later law, even though general, would prevail. Surely the provision of recruitment contemplated in the Special Police Rules is inconsistent with the latest general provision applicable to all posts in Karnataka. In the present case the later gener- al law prevails over the earlier special law because the non-obstante clause specifically mentions its efficacy inspite of the Special Law. It was for the legislature to choose the method of indicate its intention. The Courts should not defeat their intention by overlooking it. The respondent No. 2 has been selected for promotion by follow- ing the General Rules amending the Special Rules and I find it was strictly in accordance with law. I am, therefore, of the considered view that the appeal deserves to be dismissed with parties to bear their own costs. G.N. Appeal allowed. 1 ? 415