Summarize the following court judgment. Appeal No. 3607 11 of 1988. From the Judgment and Order dated 12.7.1988 of the Calcutta High Court in F.M.A.T. Nos. 2301	 2326 and 2327 of 1986. Tapas Ray	 Dr. Shankar Ghosh	 B. Dutta	 H.K. Puri	 S.K. Nandy	 Sushil Kr. Jain and R.K. Joshi for the Appellants. G.L. Sanghi	 N.R. Chowdhary	 Som Nath Chatterjee for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by VERMA	 J. These appeals involve for decision a common question	 relating to fixation of seniority of certain Sub Assistant Engineers appointed ad hoc temporary Assistant Engineers for a specified period in the P.W.D. and the Irrigation and Waterways Department of the Government of West Bengal	 vis a vis the direct recruits in the cadre of Assistant Engineers appointed regularly according to rules in these departments prior to the regularisation of the ad hoc appointees. The question was raised by the ad hoc appointees who were regularised subsequently	 by filing writ petitions in the Calcutta High Court claiming revision of their seniority	 reckoned from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment. These writ petitions were dismissed by a Single Bench of the High Court but the writ appeals were allowed by a division bench	 resulting in grant of the relief claimed by the ad hoc appointees. It is these judgments	 involving the common question of the merit of the claim of the ad hoc appointees for seniority	 reckoned from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment	 in he facts and circumstances of the case	 which are challenged in these appeals. 925 Civil Appeal No. 3607 of 1988 is by the State of West Bengal while Civil Appeal No. 3610 of 1988 is by the adversely affected direct recruits who were respondents in the writ petition filed by the ad hoc appointees in the P.W.D. Civil Appeal No. 3608 of 1988 is by the State of West Bengal while Civil Appeal No. 3611 of 1988 is by the adversely affected direct recruits who were respondents in the writ petition filed by the ad hoc appointees in the Irrigation and Waterways Department. Civil Appeal No. 3609 of 1988 is a similar matter	 also relating to the Irrigation and Water ways Department. The material facts are only a few	 and may be stated with reference to the P.W.D.	 pointing out the minor difference on facts between the ad hoc appointments made in the PWD and Irrigation and Waterways Department	 which are not significant on the conclusion reached. In exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India	 the Governor of West Bengal made Rules by Notification No. 94 dated 20th August	 1959 for the regulation of recruitment to the Engineering Services under the Department of Works and Buildings of the Government of West Bengal. In the present case	 we are concerned with the cadre of Assistant Engineers	 for which the relevant rules are : "Rule 4: There will be an examination held by the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal	 for recruitment to posts of Assistant Engineer. A certain proportion of such posts as may be determined by the Works and Buildings Depart ment from time to time	 will be filled up by candidates	 in order of merit	 who will be given a higher initial pay of Rs. 325 per month in the time scale of pay for Assistant Engineers. In order to be eligible for such higher initial pay a candidate must secure 66 per cent or above of the total marks in the said examination. Rule 9: Recruitment to the permanent posts of Assistant Engineer shall be made as follows 926 (a)Forty per cent of vacancies by direct recruitment on the results of a competitive examination to be conducted by the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal as mentioned in rule 4 supra: Qualifications : (i)A degree in Civil Engineering of a recognised University or any other qualification in Civil Engineering exempting a candidate from appearing in Sections A and B of Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers (India). (ii)One year 's post graduate practical training or study or research or practica l engineering experience. (iii)Age not more than 27 years on the 1st August of the year in which the recruitment examination is held. The age limit shall in the case of candidates who have been in the employ of the Central or the State Government or of the Damodar Valley Corporation or any other statutory body recognised for the purpose by the Government and are not out of such employment for more than a year on the said date be releasable to the extent of the actual period spent (continuously) in such employment. This relaxation of age limit will not be permitted to a candidate who had already appeared in the examination thrice. No candidate will be allowed to take more than three chances. Departmental candidates are ' eligible to apply provided they fulfill the requisite qualifications. (b)Forty per cent by selection from amongst directly recruited temporary Assistant Engineers who have rendered two years satisfactory service	 selection wing made by the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal. 927 (c)Twenty per cent by promotion of confirmed Overseer Estimators. Rule 10 Recruitment to temporary posts of Assistant Engineer shall be made as follows . (a) Eighty per cent of the vacancies are to be filled by direct recruitment on the results of a competitive examination referred to in rule 9(a) above. (b) Twenty percent by promotion of confirmed Overseer Estimators. Rule 11 Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules the Governor may in case of emergency fill up vacancies in the posts of Assistant Engineer both permanent and temporary by advertisement and interview	 through the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal. Rule 12 An Overseer Estimator shall not be promoted as a temporary Assistant Engineer unless he has rendered 10 years services. To be eligible fo r promotion he must pass a written and oral examination which will be conducted by the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal	 and will be of the same standard as Professional Examination referred to in Chapter VI of the Service (Training and Examination) Rules	 West Bengal	 Overseer Estimators who have been confirmed in their posts and have tendered 8 years ' service including temporary service in that post shall be eligible to sit for such examination	 a panel of Overseer Estimator fit for promotion as temporary Assistant Engineers shall be maintained in consultation with the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal. " Under these Rules	 recruitment to the permanent posts of Assistant Engineers was required to be made under Rule 9	 while Rule 10 governed 928 recruitment to the temporary posts of Assistant Engineers. Rule 11 provided for emergency appointment by advertisement and interview through the Public Service Commission. It is clear from these Rules that appointments to all the posts	 permanent and temporary were to be made according to the prescribed procedure	 on the basis of a competitive examination conducted by the Public Service Commission; and even the appointments made in an emergency governed by Rule 11 were to be made 'by advertisement and interview through the Public Service Commission '. Any appointment to a permanent or temporary post of Assistant Engineer	 which was not made in accordance with Rule 9 or 10 or 11 was	 therefore	 not in accordance with these Rules. The writ petitioners in all these matters were duly appointed Sub Assistant Engineers who were earlier called Overseer Estimators as described in the Rules	 and though initially diploma holders	 having obtained the prescribed degree	 were eligible for appointment as Assistant Engineers. The writ petitioners (respondents in these appeals) were appointed temporary Assistant Engineers on ad hoc basis	 initially for a period of six months in the PWD between. 1974 to 1976 and in the Irrigation and Waterways Department between 1972 to 1978. According to writ petitioners themselves	 their claim for seniority is based on direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Engineer	 and not as promotee from the next below cadre of Sub Assistant Engineers in the promotion quota specified for them	 in the Rules. It is	 therefore	 the claim of the writ petitioners for seniority from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment	 as direct recruits	 and not as promotees in the promotion quota	 which has to be considered. The ad hoc appointment of all the writ petitioners was in identical terms and	 therefore	 it is sufficient to refer merely to the relevant part of one such notification dated 10th May	 1974	 as illustrative of the nature of their ad hoc appointment. The relevant part of the notification is as under "The Governor is pleased to appoint the following Sub Assistant Engineers of the P.W.D. now posted in the Directorates/offices mentioned against each as tempy. Assistan t Engineers in the West Bengal Service of Engineers under the P.W. Department	 on ad hoc basis	 for a period of 6 (six) months with effect from the dates of joining or until further orders whichever is earlier. 929 4. The appointment is purely on ad hoc basis and he will have to revert to the post of S.A.E. if he is not selected for regular appointment as Assistant Engineer through the P.S.C." The initial ad hoc appointment was extended periodically	 on the same terms	 during the entire period upto 26.2.1980. During this period	 several opportunities were given to these persons to appear before the Public Service Commission to satisfy the condition attached to their ad hoc appointment	 but none of the writ petitioners complied with the requirement	 declining throughout to appear before the Public Service Commission. Strangely	 the State Government requested the Public Service Commission to permit regularisation of the services of these ad hoc	 appointees as Assistant Engineers	 without being selected for regular appointment by the Public Service Commission	 but the Public Service Commission firmly turned down that request. The PSC 's letters dated 4.5.1978	 10.10.1979 and 22.11.1979 contain such refusal. The Government	 even then	 took the decision on 26th February	 1980 to regularise these persons as Assistant Engineers	 and	 consequently	 took three simultaneous steps on 26.2.1980: the requirement in the rules of consultation with the P.S.C. was dispensed with	 for them; they were absorbed as temporary Assistant Engineers; and rule under Article 309 was made	 providing for their seniority as temporary Assistant Engineers	 with effect from the same date i.e. 26.2.1980. This rule clearly provided	 that all persons appointed regularly in accordance with rules	 prior to 26.2.1980	 as Assistant Engineers would rank above the ad hoc appointees so absorbed with effect from 26.2.1980. This decision of the Government has also been implemented. Surprisingly	 the grievance	 even then	 of the writ petitioners is	 that their seniority should be reckoned not only from 26.2.1980	 as has been done	 but from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment made temporarily in the above manner	 notwithstanding the conditions attached to that appointment under the rules	 and their failure to fulfill the same. It is sufficient to refer to certain portions of the PSC 's reply dated 4th May	 1978 to the State Government 's proposal for regularisation of ad 930 hoc appointments	 reiterating the strong objection of PSC that 'the appointments had been ab initio irregular	 illegal and unconstitutional. ' Relevant extract from the reply is as under: "2. It appears that the cases of 27 of 36 ad hoc appointments of Assistant Engineer (29 in the Civil Branch and 7 in the Electrical Branch) under the Public Works Department as made between May	 1974 and June	 1975 were earlier reported to the Commission in January	 1975. The Commission informed Government that the appointments had been ab initio irregular	 illegal and unconstitutional and requested Government to make regular recruitment to the posts after advertisement (vide Secretary 's D.O. No. 370 PSC dated the 8th March	 1975). The Commission also brought the irregularity to the notice of the Chief Secretary whose reply in this regard was as follows (vide Chief Secretary 's letter No. 938/75 CS dated the 22nd August	 1975 issued by Public Works (Estt.) Department : '. The ad hoc appointments in question were made by the Public Works Department in the exigencies of public service pending recruitment of Assistant Engineers through the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal and on the express condition that the concerned of ficers would have 'lo revert if they failed to be selected by the Public Service Commission for appointment as Assistant Engineers. " 3.It appears that of the 29 ad hoc Assistant Engineers (Civil) only 3 applied in response to the Commission 's subsequent advertisement. None of them however appeared at the preliminary written test held by the Com mission in that connection. As regards the 7 posts of Assistant Engineers (Electrical) it appears that all the 7 ad hoc appointees applied in response to the Commission 's advertisements issued in 1975 but that none of them was able to obtain even the pass mark at the interviews. In the above context it is not clear how Government can 931 now sponsor a proposal for regularisation of the appointment of these ad hoc appointees. " In this reply it was finally said that the illegality of these ad hoc appointments could not be cured. It was after the strong stand taken by the PSC	 that the State Government took the aforesaid action on 26.2.1980 to dispense with the requirement of consultation with the PSC	 and regularise appointments of ad hoc appointees with effect from 26.2.1980. The Rules for seniority made by the notification dated 26.2.1980 issued in exercise of the power conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution	 are as under "1. These rules may be called the Seniority Rules for the Assistant Engineers recruited in the Public Works Department otherwise than through the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal during the period from May 1974 t o June	1976. 2. The Assistant Engineers under Public Works Department who were recruited otherwise than through the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal during the period from May 1974 to June 1976 and who were excluded from the purview of the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal under this department notification No. 1299 F dated 26.2.1982	 shall be deemed to be junior to any Assistant Engineer who was selected by the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal and was appointed on a date prior to 26th February	 1980. The inter seniority in respect of the Assistant Engineers who are covered by the said notification shall be determined on the basis of select list	 if any. In the absence of any such select list the inter se seniority should be determined on the basis of their length of service as Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department." (emphasis supplied) These ad hoc appointees having obtained the benefit of regularisation with effect from 26.2.1980 without being selected by the PSC	 and being given the benefit of seniority from the date of their regularisation on 932 26.2.1980	 have challenged the Government 's action and claimed seniority with effect from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment	 of this nature. It may	 here be mentioned	 that in case of the ad hoc appointees in the Irrigation and Waterways Department	 even a rule for seniority being given to them from 26.2.1980 was not made	 as was done for the ad hoc appointees in the P.W.D.	 and yet they have also been given the same benefit. They make the same grievance	 inspite of this. On behalf of the appellants	 State of West Bengal and the direct recruits aggrieved by the judgment of the Division Bench of the High Court	 it has been urged that the claim of the writ petitioners (respondents in these appeals) for seniority being given to the	 retrospectively from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment	 made contrary to the rules	 in spite of their regularisation being made expressly from 26.2.1980	 is wholly untenable and against the decisions of this Court	 particularly the constitution bench decision in Direct Recruit Class II Engineering Officer 's Association and Ors. vs State of Maharashtra and Ors. 	 ; = ; On this basis	 it was submitted that the Division Bench of the High Court committed an error in reversing the judgment of the Single Bench	 by which the writ petitions had been dismissed. In reply Shri G.L. Sanghi appearing for the writ petitioners (respondents in all these appeals) submitted	 that the initial ad hoc appointment of the writ petitioners was made by a mode permissible under the rules; that appointment was made in relaxation of ' the rules by the Government which is implicit in the action taken; the initial ad hoc appointment must	 therefore	 be equated with a regular appointment made under the rules; and on this equation there is no justification for discrimination between the initial ad hoc appointees and regular appointees coming in by direct recruitment thereafter in accordance with rules. It was submitted that the initial ad hoc appointment being	 therefore	 in the nature of regular appointment	 made during an emergency	 after selection by a Committee consisting of five Chief Engineers	 these persons are entitled to count their entire service including the ad hoc period prior to 26.2.1980	 for the purpose of their seniority. Shri Sanghi relied on the decisions of this Court in A. Janardhana vs Union of India and Ors.[1983] 2 SCR 936 and Narender Chadha Ors. vs Union of India and Ors. ; to support his submission. Shri Sanghi further submitted	 that the case of the writ petitioners fell squarely within the ambit of conclusion (B) of the summary 933 in Maharashtra Engineers case (in para 44 of the SCR = para 47 of SCC. The question	 therefore	 is whether Shri Sanghi is right in his submission that this case falls within the ambit of the said conclusion (B) in Maharashtra Engineers case. The submission of the other side is that this case falls	 not within conclusion (B) but the corollary mentioned in con clusion (A)	 of that decision. Conclusions (A) and (B)	 which alone are material	 are as under : "(A) Once an incumbent is appointed to a post according to rule	 his seniority has to be counted from the date of his appointment and not according to the date of his confirmation. The corollary of the above rule is that where the initial appointment is only ad hoc and not according to rules and made as a stop gap arrangement	 the officiation in such post cannot be taken into account for considering the seniority. (B)If the initial appointment is not made by following the procedure laid down by the rules but the appointee continues in the post uninterruptedly till the regularisation of his service in accordance with the rules	 the period of officiating service will be counted. " It is not necessary to deal at length with the decisions of this court in A. Janardhana and Narender Chadha in view of the later constitution bench judgment in Maharashtra Engineers ' case	 wherein all the relevant earlier decisions have been considered before summarising the conclusions (in para 44 of SCR = para 47 of SCC). We may	 however	 briefly refer to the decisions in A. Janardhana and Narender Chadha	 since Shri Sanghi has strongly relied on them. It may be mentioned that both these decisions related to inter se seniority of direct recruits and promotees	 the two channels for appointment to the posts	 where there was a quota prescribed for the two channels leading to rota for confirmation	 and the seniority was based on the date of confirmation	 according to rules. The dispute arose as a result of promotions being made in excess of the promotees quota	 in the case of the surplus promotees. It 934 was in that context	 that the question of taking into account longer period of continuous officiation for the purpose of fixing inter se seniority of direct recruits and promotees	 came up for consideration. Those cases are clearly distinguishable. In the present case	 there is no dispute between promotees and direct recruits	 the claim of the writ petitioners being based only as direct recruits in the cadre of Assistant Engineers	 and not as promotees from the lower cadre of Sub Assistant Engineers to which they had earlier belonged. The present is	 therefore not a case of a dispute relating to the surplus promotees	 who were given promotion regularly in accordance with rules	 but in excess of the quota fixed for them under the rules. In the present case	 all the writ petitioners are persons who were given ad hoc temporary appointments for a fixed period	 which was extended from time to time till their regularisation on 26.2.1980	 and that too by relaxation of the condition of selection by the Public Service Commission	 which was an express condition of their ad hoc appointment and a requirement for regular appointment under the Rules. Assuming the relaxation made in their case by the State Government on 26.2.1980 to be valid	 as the same is not disputed before us	 they could be treated as regularly appointed only with effect from 26.2.1980 when the relaxation was given to them	 and an order was made simultaneously absorbing them in the cadre of Assistant Engineers	 also framing a rule at the same time under Article 309 providing for fixation of their seniority only from that date. Accordingly	 there is no foundation for the claim that they could be treated at par with the direct recruits	 regularly appointed prior to 26.2.1980. The admitted facts	 which are the foundation of the claim of the writ petitioners	 are sufficient to negative their claim. It is obvious that prior to the steps taken by the State Government on 26.2.1980 for their regularisation in this manner	 there was no basis on which the writ petitioners could claim to be regularly appointed as Assistant Engineers; and	 therefore	 the manner in which they were regularised	 including the mode of fixation of their seniority with effect from 26.2.1980	 is decisive of the nature of their regular appointment. This alone is sufficient to negative their further claim. They can make no grievance to any part of that exercise	 made only for their benefit. The constitution bench in Maharashtra Engineers ' case	 while dealing with Narender Chadha	 emphasised the unusual fact that the promotees in question had worked continuously for long periods of nearly fifteen to 935 twenty years on the posts without being reverted	 and then proceeded to state the principle thus : "We	 therefore	 confirm the principle of counting towards seniority the period of continuous officiation following an appointment made in accordance with the rules prescribed for regular substantive appointments in the service. ' The constitution bench having dealt with Narendra Chadha in this manner	 to indicate the above principle	 that decision can not be construed to apply to cases where the initial appointment was not according to rules. We shall now deal with conclusions (A) and (B) of the constitution bench in the Maharashtra Engineers ' case	 quoted above. There can be no doubt that these two conclusions have to be read harmoniously	 and conclusion (B) can not cover cases which are expressly excluded by conclusion (A). We may	 therefore	 first refer to conclusion (A). It is clear from conclusion (A) that to enable seniority to be counted from the date of initial appointment and not according to the date of confirmation	 the incumbent of the post has to be initially appointed 	according to rules '. The corollary set out in conclusion (A)	 then is	 that 'where the initial appointment is only ad hoc and not according to rules and made as a stop gap arrangement	 the officiation in such posts cannot be taken into account for considering the seniority. Thus	 the corollary in conclusion (A) expressly excludes the category of cases where the initial appointment is only ad hoc and not according to rules	 being made only as a stop gap arrangement. The case of the writ petitioners squarely falls within this corollary in conclusion (A)	 which says that the officiation in such posts cannot be taken into account for counting the seniority. This being the obvious inference from conclusion (A)	 the question is whether the present case can also fall within conclusion (B) which deals with cases in which period of officiating service will be counted for seniority. We have no doubt that conclusion (B) cannot include	 within its ambit	 those cases which are expressly covered by the corollary in conclusion (A)	 since the two conclusions cannot be read in conflict with each other. 936 The question therefore	 is of the category which would be covered by conclusion (B) excluding therefrom the cases covered by the corollary in conclusion (A). In our opinion the conclusion (B) was added to cover a different kind of situation	 wherein the appointments are otherwise regular	 except for the deficiency of certain procedural requirements laid down by the rules. This is clear from the opening words of the conclusion (B)	 namely	 'if the initial appointment is not made by following the procedure laid down by the rules ' and the later expression 'till the regularisation of his service in accordance with the rules '. We read conclusion (B)	 and it must be so read to re councile with conclusion (A)	 to cover the cases where the initial appointment is made against an existing vacancy	 not limited to a fixed period of time or purpose by the appointment order itself	 and is made subject to the deficiency in the procedural requirements prescribed by the rules for adjudging suitability of the appointee for the post being cured at the time of regularisation	 the appointee being eligible and qualified in every manner for a regular appointment on the date of initial appointment in such cases. Decision about the nature of the appointment	 for determining whether it falls in this category	 has to be made on the basis of the terms of the initial appointment itself and the provisions in the rules. In such cases	 the deficiency in the procedural requirements laid down by the rules has to be cured at the first available opportunity	 without any default of the employee	 and the appointee must continue in the post uninterruptedly till the regularisation of his service	 in accordance with the rules. In such cases	 the appointee is not to blame for the deficiency in the procedural requirements under the rules at the time of his initial appointment	 and the appointment not being limited to a fixed period of time is intended to be a regular appointment	 subject to the remaining procedural requirements of the rules being fulfilled at the earliest. In such cases also	 if there be any delay in curing the defects on account of any fault of the appointee	 the appointee would not get the full benefit of the earlier period on account of his default	 the benefit being confined only to the period for which he is not to blame. This category of cases is different from those covered by the corollary in conclusion (A) which relates to appointment only on ad hoc basis as a stop gap arrangement and not according to rules. It is	 therefore	 not correct to say	 that the present cases can fall within the ambit of conclusion (B)	 even though they are squarely covered by the corollary in conclusion (A). 937 In view of the above	 it is clear that the claim of the writ petitioners (respondents in all these appeals) for treating their entire period of 'service prior to 26.2.1980 as regular service for the purpose of seniority	 and fixation of their seniority accordingly	 is untenable. The submission of Shri Sanghi that their initial ad hoc appointment must be treated as having been made in accordance with the rules since the selection by an alternative mode	 namely	 by a committee of five Chief Engineers was resorted to on account of the emergency	 cannot be accepted. Rule 11 of the 1959 Rules provides for appointments to be made during emergency	 and lays down that such appointments during emergency can be made only 'by advertisement and interview	 through the Public Service Commission	 West Bengal. ' Admittedly	 this express requirement in Rule 11 was not followed or fulfilled subsequently	 and	 therefore	 the initial ad hoc appointments cannot be treated to have been made according to the applicable rules. These ad hoc appointments were clearly not in accordance with the rules	 and were made only as a stop gap arrangement for fixed period	 as expressly stated in the appointment order itself. Thus	 there is no escape from the conclusion that the present cases fall squarely within the ambit of the corollary in conclusion (A)	 of Maharashtra Engineers case and	 therefore	 the period of ad hoc service of writ petitioners (respondents) on the post of Assistant Engineer prior to 26.2.1980	 cannot be counted for reckoning their seniority. Consequently	 these appeals are allowed. The impugned judgments of the Division Bench of the High Court	 are set aside	 and those of the Single Bench dismissing the writ petitions are restored. No costs. N.V.K. Appeals allowed.

By Notification No. 94 dated 20th August	 1959 the Governor of West Bengal made Rules under the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India for the regulation of recruitment to the Engineering Services under the Department of Works and Buildings of the State Government. Under these Rules	 recruitment to the permanent posts of Assistant Engineers was to be made under Rule 9	 while Rule 10 governed recruitment to the temporary posts of Assistant Engineers. Rule 11 provided for emergency appointment by advertisement and interview through the State Public Service Commission	 on the basis of a competitive examination conducted by the Service Commission. Accordingly	 any appointment to a permanent or temporary post of Assistant Engineer	 which was not made in accordance with Rule 9	 or 10 or 11 was	 therefore	 not in accordance with these Service Rules. The respondents in the appeals were petitioners in the writ petitions in the High Court. They were duly appointed Sub Assistant Engineers who were earlier called Overseer Estimators and though Initially diploma holders having obtained the prescribed degree were eligible for appointment as Assistant Engineers. They were appointed temporary Assistant Engineers on ad hoc basis	 initially for a period of six months in the PWD 1974 to 1976 and in the Irrigation and Waterways Department 920 between 1972 to 1978. They claimed seniority on the basis of their direct recruitment to the post of Assistant Engineer	 and not as promotee from the next below cadre of Sub Assistant Engineers In the promotion quota specified for them in the Rules. Their initial ad hoc appointment was extended periodically upto 26.2.1980	 and during this period	 several opportunities were given to these persons to appear before the Public Service Commission to satisfy the condition attached to the ad hoc appointment	 but none of them complied with the requirement	 declining throughout to appear before the Public Service Commission. The State Government requested the Public Service Commission to permit regularisation of the services of these ad hoc appointees as Assistant Engineers	 without being selected for regular appointment by the Public Service Commission but the Public Service Commission by several letters turned down that re quest. The Government	 finally took the decision on 26th February	 1980 to regularise these persons as Assistant Engineers	 and	 consequently took three simultaneous steps on 26 2 1980 viz. (1) the requirement in the rules of consultation with the Public Service Commission being dispensed with	 (2) absorbtion as temporary Assistant Engineers and (3) a service rule under Article 309 providing for seniority as temporary Assistant Engineers with effect from the same date i.e. 26 2 1980. This statutory rule clearly provided	 that all persons appointed regularly in accordance with rules	 prior to 26 2 1980	 as Assistant Engineers would rank above the ad hoc appointees so absorbed with effect from 26 2 1980 and the Government implemented this decision. The question before the High Court related to the fixation of seniority of these Sub Assistant Engineers appointed ad hoc temporary Assistant Engineers for a specified period in the PWD and the Irrigation and Waterways Department	 vis a vis the direct recruits in the cadre of Assistant Engineers appointed regularly according to rules in the department prior to the regularisation of the ad hoc appointees. The writ petitions were dismissed by a Single Judge of the High Court	 but the writ appeals were allowed by the Division Bench resulting in grant of the relief claimed by the ad hoc appointees. In the appeals to this Court by the State of West Bengal	 and the adversely affected direct recruits who were respondents in the writ petitions filed by the ad hoc appointees	 it has been urged that the claim of 921 the respondents for seniority being given to them retrospectively from the date of their initial ad hoc appointment	 made contrary to the rules	 in spite of their regularisation being made expressly from 26 2 80	 is wholly untenable and against the decisions of this Court particularly the Constitution Bench decision on Direct Recruit Class II Engineering Officers ' Association and Ors. vs State of Maharashtra and Ors. 	[1990] 2 SCR 900 = ; 	 and that the Division Bench of the High Court com mitted an error in reversing the judgment of the Single judge Bench which had dismissed the writ petitions. The appeals were contested by the respondents by submitting that the initial ad hoc appointment of the writ petitioners was made by a mode permissible under the Service Rules	 that appointment was made in relaxation of the rules by the Government which is implicit in the action taken	 the initial ad hoc appointment must	 therefore	 be equated to the regular appointment made under the Rules	 and on this equation there is no justification for discrimination between the initial ad hoc appointees and regular appointees coming in by direct recruitment thereafter in accordance with the rules. It was further submitted that the case fell squarely within the ambit of conclusion (B) of the summary In Maharashtra Engineers case. Allowing the appeals	 this Court	 HELD : 1. There is no dispute between promotes and direct recruits	 the claim of the writ petitioners being based only as direct recruits in the Cadre of Assistant Engineers	 and not as promotees from the lower cadre of Sub Assistant Engineers to which they had earlier belonged. The present is	 therefore	 not a case of a dispute relating to the surplus promotees	 who were given promotion regularly in accordance with rules	 but in excess of the quota fixed for them under the rules. In the present case	 all the writ petitioners are persons who were given ad hoc temporary appointments for a fixed period	 which was extended from time to time till their regularisation on 26 2 1980	 and that too by relaxation of the condition of selection by the Public Service Commission	 which was an express condition of their ad hoc appointment and a requirement for regular appointment under the Rules. Assuming the relaxation made in their case by the State Government on 26 2 1980 to be valid	 they could be treated as regularly appointed only with effect from 26 2 1980 when the 922 relaxation was given to them	 and an order was made simultaneously absorbing them in the cadre of Assistant Engineers	 also framing a rule at the same time under Article 309 providing for fixation of their seniority only from that date. Accordingly	 there is no foundation for the claim that they could be treated at par with the direct recruits	 regularly appointed prior to 26 2 1980. [934 C E] 2. Prior to the steps taken by the State Government on 26 2 1980 for regularisation	 there was no basis on which the writ petitioners could claim to be regularly appointed as Assistant Engineers; and	 therefore	 the manner in which they were regularised	 including the mode of fixation of their seniority with effect from 26 2 1980	 is decisive of the nature of their regular appointment. This alone is sufficient to negative their further claim. They can make no grievance to any part of that exercise	 made only for their benefit [934 F G] 3. The claim of the writ petitioners (respondents in all these appeals) for treating their entire period of service prior to 26 2 1980 as regular service for the purpose of seniority	 and fixation of their seniority accordingly	 is untenable. 1937 A] 4. Rule It of the 1959 Rules provides for appointments to be made during emergency	 and lays down that such appointments can be made only by advertisement and interview	 through the Public Service Commission. Admittedly	 this express requirement in Rule 11 was not followed or fulfilled subsequently	 and	 therefore	 the initial ad hoc appointments cannot be treated to have been made according to the applicable rules. These ad hoc appointments were clearly not in accordance with the rules	 and were made only as a stop gap arrangement for fixed period	 as expressly stated in the appointment order itself. [937 C] 5. Conclusions (A) and (B) of the Constitution Bench in the Maharashtra Engineer 's case have to be read harmoniously	 and conclusion (B) cannot cover cases which are expressly excluded by conclusion (A). It is. clear from conclusion (A) that to enable seniority to be counted from the date of initial appointment and not according to the date of confirmation	 the incumbent of the post has to be initially	 appointed 'according to the rules '. The corollary set out in conclusion (A)	 then is	 that 'Where the initial appointment is only ad hoc and not according to rules and made as a stop gap arrangement	 the officiation in such posts cannot be taken into 923 account for considering the seniority. The case of the writ petitioners squarely falls within this corollary in conclusion (A)	 which says that the officiation in such posts cannot be taken into account for counting the seniority. [935 D F] 6. Conclusion (B) was added to cover a different kind of situation	 wherein the appointments are otherwise regular except for the deficiency of certain procedural requirements laid down by the rules. This is clear from the opening words of the conclusion (B)	 namely	 if the initial appointment is not made by following the procedure laid down by the rules and the later expression 'till the regularisation of his service in accordance with the rules '. Conclusion (B) must be so read as to reconcile with conclusion (A). [936 B] 7. Decision about the nature of the appointment	 for determining whether it falls in this category	 has to be made on the basis of the terms of the initial appointment itself and the provisions in the rules. In such cases	 the deficiency in the procedural requirements laid down by the rules had to be cured at the first available opportunity	 without any default of the employee	 and the appointee must continue in the post uninterruptedly till the regularisation of his service	 in accordance with the rules. In such cases	 the appointee is not to blame for the deficiency in the procedural requirements under the rules at the time of his initial appointment. In such cases also	 if there be any delay in curing the defects on account of any fault of the appointee	 the appointee would not get the full benefit of the earlier period on account of his default	 the benefit being confined only to the period for which he is not to blame. This category of cases is different from those covered by the corollary in conclusion (A) which relates to appointment only on ad hoc basis as a stop gap arrangement and not according to rules. [936 E G] 8. It is	 therefore	 not correct to say	 that the present cases can fall within the ambit of conclusion (B)	 even though they are squarely covered by the corollary in conclusion (A). [936 H] 9. There is	 therefore	 no escape from the conclusion that the present cases fall squarely within the ambit of the corollary in conclusion (A)	 of	 Maharashtra Engineers ' case and	 therefore	 the period of ad hoc service of writ petitioners (respondents) on the post of Assistant Engineer prior to 26 2 1980	 cannot be counted for reckoning their seniority. [937 E] 924 Direct Recruit Class II Engineering Officers 'Association and Ors. vs State of Maharashtra and Ors. 	 ; = ; 	 explained and followed. [932 D] A. Janardhana vs Union of India & Ors.	 ; and Narender Chadha & Ors. vs Union of India and Ors. 	 ; 	 referred to. [932 H]