Bhagwati, J. after referring to Bishan Sarup Gupta vs Union of India observed as under: "There was no specific seniority rule to determine inter se seniority between the direct recruits and the promotees appointed regularly within their respective quota from and after 16th January, 1959 and though, in the absence of any specific seniority rule, the Court could have applied the residuary rule based on length of continuous officiation, the Court did not do so because it felt that since the old seniority rule had ceased to operate by reason of the infringement of the quota rule, it would be for the Government to devise "a just and fair seniority rule as between the direct recruits and the promotees for being given effect to from 16th January, 1959." Therefore, in the absence of any specific rule of seniority governing a cadre or a service, it is well settled that length of continuous officiation will provide a more objective and fair rule of seniority.