THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY Writ Petition No.24833 of 2010 ORDER: The petitioner was appointed as Conductor in the City Region on 23.11.1985. His services were regularized on 01.07.1986. However, on a request made by him, he was transferred to Karimnagar Region on 24.04.1991. The petitioner states that the respondents are not considering his case for promotion to a higher post, on the ground that the service rendered by him in that region cannot be counted towards his seniority. He challenges the action of the respondents. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. Admittedly, the transfer of the petitioner to Karimnagar region was on his request. It is settled principle of law that whenever an employee is transferred from one unit to another on a request, he has to take the lowest rank in the seniority of the cadre in the unit to which he is transferred. Though his service ever since the date of joining the organization is liable to be counted, seniority in the unit however stands on a different footing. Learned counsel for the petitioner placed reliance upon a judgment of the Supreme Court in Union of India v. C.N.Ponnappan[1]. In that case, the issue was as to whether the service rendered by an employee in the unit, where he was initially employed, can be taken into account, for the purpose of computation of the length of stipulated service for promotion, once he is transferred to another unit, on compassionate grounds. The dispute was not at all as to the inter se seniority among the employees in the unit to which the petitioner therein was transferred. Such is not the case here. The respondents are not disputing the length of service of the petitioner. It is only as to the inter se seniority, vis-à-vis the other employees of the same category in the unit to which he was transferred on request. Whether or not there existed a stipulation in the order of transfer, the petitioner has to take the last rank in the seniority as on the date of his transfer. Therefore, the Writ Petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as costs. _____________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. Dt.05.10.2010. GJ [1] AIR 1996 SC 764