who was senior on account of his earlier recruitment as Constable also becomes Sub Inspector and is considered for promotion. We have already noticed the rules. We have no hesitation in holding that for the purpose of promotion to the post of Inspector, the special category of Sub Inspector Armourer has been merged with the category of Sub Inspector in the general category. A Sub Inspector Armourer thus has been provided with the avenue of promotion as Inspector in the general category. This alone will ensure that those who opted for the special category of Armourer are not made to stagnate as Sub Inspectors, while in all other categories, a further promotion as Inspector is available. Any interpretation otherwise will be violative of Article 16(1) of the Constitution of India. We also do not subscribe to the view that since the Sub Inspector Armourer has to be considered for promotion as Inspector in the General category, the original seniority as Constable should alone be adhered to between the general category Sub Inspectors and the Sub Inspector Armourer. This will not only make the specialisation a cause of loss of seniority to the Sub Inspector Armourer, but also deny to him his right to be considered for promotion as Inspector at least until such time any junior to him is still below the rank of Sub Inspector in the general category. A rule which shall cause harm instead of good, a rule which shall deny instead of promoting, cannot be accepted as a rule of justice. Thus viewed Sub Inspector Armourer must rank interchangeably with Sub Inspector in general category and recken seniority in the order of continuous officiation as Sub Inspector, whether in general category or in the specialist category of Sub Inspector Armourer. We are not impressed by the argument that there will be denial of equality of opportunity, if Sub Inspector Armourer is not made to wait until those in the general category who were senior to him also become Sub Inspectors, and until then they are considered for promotion, he is not considered for promotion. We have already noticed that there was equal opportunity, are so long the rules hold the field, there shall be equal opportunity to exercise the option after recruitment as constable, and those who avail the opportunity and go to the special category thus do not in any manner cause any discrimination. It is well-settled that starting from a common point in service, employees may take two different routes until they
