MATHEW - (1.) THIS appeal, by special leave, is directed against a judgment of the Delhi High Court , passed in appeal from the order of a learned single Judge of that Court partially allowing a writ petition filed by the appellant.
(2.) THE appellant, while holding medical licentiate qualification ,was taken in the Army Medical Service as an Emergency Commissioned Officer in the rank of Lieutenant on 14/12/1943. He functioned as commissioned officer for a period of three years, ten months and 26 days, and was relieved on 10/11/1947. He was again taken as a Short Service Commissioned officer on 1/06/1950, and served in that capacity for a period of 3 years, 5 months and 17 days, and he was relived on 17/11/1953, Thus the total period of his full commissioned service, both as Emergency and as Short Service Commissioned Officer, came to 7 years, 4 months and 13 days. In the year 1954, it was decided to form a reserve of medical officers to be called 'A.M.C. Reserve' and Army Instruction No. I/S dated 27/05/1954, was issued by the Government of India for that purpose. According to the instruction, the A.M.C. Reserve was divided into our classes, 'A', 'B' 'C' and 'X' Reserve Officers. Class 'C' comprised specialist officers liable to report for colour service within 60 days. THE appellant was recruited in the class 'C' service of specialists. Paragraph (13) of the Army Instruction provided that officers of the AMC Reserve service, when called for training or colour service were to receive the same pay and allowances as laid down for regular officers of the A.M.C. of the corresponding rank in the New Pay Code for the duration of training or colour service. It further provided that for the released Emergency Commissioned and Short Service Commissioned officers appointed to the Reserve, the previous full pay commissioned service would count for pay. On 1/08/1958, the appellant was granted a Reserve Commission in Class 'C' in the rank of Substantive Major under the terms and conditions of the army Instruction. THEreafter, the appellant was called to colour service, which, for all practical purposes, means whole time active service, and he reported for duty on 22/01/1963, and served from that date as a specialist in ophthalmology. As a reserve candidate, before being recalled to colour service, he had remained on training for a total period of one month. Adding the period of one month, the appellant had to his credit, "full pay commissioned service" of 7 years, 5 months and 13 days on the date of his reporting for colour service. In the year 1965, Army Instruction No. I/S of 1954, was superseded by Army Instruction No. 176 That provided for the terms and conditions of service of the regular reserve of Medical Officers. Paragraphs 7, 8 9 of Army Instruction No. 176 concerning ante-date of commission read. as follows: "7. Previous Commissioned Service - Full pay commissioned service as a medical officer in the AMC will count for pay and promotion on appointment to reserve commission provided the candidate was in possession of medical qualifications recognised for grant of commission as a Lieut, in the AMC. This service will also count for pay and towards qualifying service limits for substantive promotion. However, in all cases periods of service forfeited by sentence of court martial or by summary award under section 84 of the Army Act (Act XLVI of 1950) will be deducted from the total service reckonable for pay/promotion as the case may be. In case the service in AMC was rendered while holding licentiate qualifications, the previous commissioned service less than two years will count, for pay and promotion. "Previous service in a non-medical crops or in the IMD will not count for pay and promotion. "Ante-date of commission: On recall to colour service or employment with officer's consent ante-date in addition to the entitlement under para 7 above will be admissible for purposes of pay and substantive promotion as under:- "(a) A candidate who has held an approved wholetime appointment in a recognised civil hospital for a period of not less than 6 months will be eligible for an ante-date of six months. No ante-date will be permissible for hospital appointment which forms part of compulsory internship for the basic or post-graduate qualification. "(b) A candidate will be eligible for grant of an ante-date not exceeding six months, if at the time of selection he/she is in possession of a postgraduate Diploma in any branch of medical science recognised by the Indian Medical Council provided that the candidate had to attend a course of instruction in a recognised institution for at least nine months to qualify for such diploma. "(c) A candidate will be eligible for grant of an ante-date not exceeding 12 months in respect of higher qualifications. This will normally be granted for qualifications such as MD, MS or equivalent qualification obtained by examination from recognised Universities/colleges and recognised as such by the Indian Medical Council. "(d) In the case of a candidate who is eligible for an ante-date under more than one of the preceding subparagraphs the maximum period of ante-date will be limited to 18 months. (e) The eligibility of each candidate of the grant of ante-date will be decided by the DG AFMS. "Note: The post-graduate diploma and qualifications obtained by taking examination during "Called up Service" will not entitle an officer for ante-date for such qualifications. "9. In the case of Class 'C' Reserve Officers, if an individual is entitled to more than 6 years' reckonable service under paras 7 and 8 above, the date of grant of the rank of Major at the time of entry will be ante-dated to the extent of the total period of ante-date less 6 years." Para 31, which provides for supersession of Army Instruction No. I/S of 1954 reads: "31. This Instruction supersedes AI I/S/54. In case of AMC (Reserve) officers recalled and who had joined colour service during present emergency, this AI will take effect from 26/10/1962, in matter of ante-date, promotion. T. A., leave and pay."
(3.) THE appellant's case in THE writ petition was that he was entitled to reckon his total previous full pay commissioned service for "ante-date" without any deduction for fixing his pay and rank and that THE respondents should be directed to do so. The Learned Single Judge directed THE respondents to give THE petitioner THE benefit of ante-date of 6 years, 11 months and 13 days for THE purpose of promotion. The appellant filed a Letters Patent appeal to a Division Bench of THE Court. The Bench dismissed THE appeal. The Division Bench held that para 13 of THE Army Instruction No. I/S of 1954 which provided that full pay commissioned service will count for pay has been superseded by para 7 read with para 31 of Army Instruction No. 176 of 1965. The Court said that THE appellant had only medical licentiate qualification during THE period he served as an Emergency Commissioned and Short Service Commissioned Officer, and according to para 7 of Army Instruction No. 176 of 1965, THE previous commissioned service, less than two years, alone would count for pay and promotion. The Court furTHEr held that as permited by para 8 of that instruction, a period of 18 months should be added to appellant's reckonable service for pay due to his subsequently acquiring higher qualifications and taking a post-graduate diploma in ophthalmology. Thus, according to THE Court, THE appellant was entitled to THE benefit of para 8 of THE Army Instruction No. 176, but THEn, THEre was to be a deduction of two years from his previous full pay commissioned service for purposes of pay by virtue of para 7 read with para 31 which provided that in case of A. M. C. Reserve Officers recalled to colour service during THE emergency, THE Army Instruction No. 176 will take effect from 26/10/1962, In THE matter of ante-date for promotion, T. A., leave and pay. The appellant submitted that his conditions of service were governed by the Army Instruction No. I/S of 1954 and according to para 13 thereof, the whole of his previous full pay commissioned service must count for pay, and that Army Instruction No. 176 which came into force with retrospective effect from 26/10/1962, in the case of A. M. C. Reserve Officers called to colour service during emergency in the matter of 'ante-date', for promotion, T. A., leave and pay, cannot affect his conditions of service which were governed in this behalf by para 13 of Army Instruction No I/S of 1954.;