Before proceeding to consider the question whether the appellant 's seniority was properly determined under Rule 9 of the Punjab P.W.D. (Electricity Branch) Provincial Service Class 111 (Sub ordinate posts) Rules 1952 (in short to be referred herein as the said Rules) it is necessary to set out herein the relevant provision of Rule 9: "9. Seniority of the members of the Service The seniority of the members of the Service for the time being serving in each class of appointment shown in Appendix `A ' shall be determined as follows: PG NO 709 (i) Prior to confirmation (i.e. in the case of persons serving on probation or in an officiating capacity) in the order of the dates of their appointment or if such date be the same in respect of two or more persons, in the order of their ages, the older being placed above the younger.