Seniority of Inducted IPS Officers Must Be Re-determined Following Precedent for Year of Allotment Weightage

18 applicants, primarily Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, approached the Tribunal challenging an order dated 06.08.2025.

This order rejected their representations seeking modifications to their seniority and "year of allotment" as previously fixed by the Union of India in an order dated 29.04.2025.

The applicants contended that the existing allotment restricted their seniority and failed to provide the actual weightage of years they were entitled to.

During the hearing, the applicants' counsel pointed out that the Allahabad Bench of the same Tribunal had already decided a similar matter in OA No. 463 of 2016 (Kavindra Pratap Singh Ors. v. Union of India Ors.) on 31.03.2017.

1. Whether the seniority and year of allotment of the applicants were correctly determined in the orders dated 29.04.2025 and 06.08.2025.

2. Whether the applicants are entitled to the same relief and benefits granted by the Tribunal in the precedent case of Kavindra Pratap Singh Ors. v. Union of India Ors.

The court applied the principle of judicial parity and consistency in administrative law.

It relied specifically on the precedent set by the Allahabad Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal in Kavindra Pratap Singh Ors. v. Union of India Ors. (OA No. 463 of 2016), which governed the determination of seniority and weightage for similarly situated officers.

The Tribunal noted the submission by the applicants that their case involved "similar fact situations" to the Kavindra Pratap Singh case.

The counsel for the respondents (Union of India and State of Uttar Pradesh) conceded to these facts and did not object to the disposal of the application in light of the cited precedent, provided a reasonable timeframe was granted for implementation.

Consequently, the Tribunal did not find it necessary to engage in a de novo examination of the merits but rather focused on ensuring uniform application of the law established in the earlier coordinate bench decision to ensure the applicants received their rightful "actual weightage in years".

The respondents are ordered to extend the same benefits to the present applicants regarding seniority and year of allotment within a period of three months from the receipt of the certified copy of the order.

No order was made as to costs.