Provided that the total period of probation including extension, if any, shall not exceed three years.

Seniority Seniority, inter-se of the members of Service shall be determined by the merit list sent by recruiting agency: Provided that in case of members appointed by direct recruitment, the order of merit determined by the recruiting agency shall not be disturbed in fixing the seniority: Provided further that in case of two or more members appointed on the same date by different modes of appointment, their seniority shall be determined as follows, namely:-

1. (a) a member appointed by direct recruitment shall be senior to a member appointed otherwise;
2. (b) a member appointed under ex-gratia policy shall be senior to a member appointed by promotion;
3. (c) a member appointed by promotion shall be senior to a member appointed by transfer;
4. (d) a member who is absorbed shall be senior to a surplus member adjusted against a vacant post;
5. (e) in case two or more members appointed by promotion from amongst Group D employees or by transfer from any other Department or cadre, their seniority shall be determined according to the seniority of such member in the appointment from which they are promoted or transferred; and
6. (f) in case of members appointed by transfer from different cadres, their seniority shall be determined according to pay, preference being given to a member, who was drawing a higher rate of pay in his previous appointment, and if the rates of pay drawn are also the same, then by the length of their service in the appointment and if the length of such service is also same, the older member shall be senior to the younger member.