circumstances in which an order of reversion may be made. An order of reversion is in its immediate effect bound always to be a reduction in rank. Even a reversion from a higher but temporary or officiating rank to a lower substantive rank is in a sense a reduction. But such orders of reversion are not always reduction in rank within the meaning of Article311. If the officer is promoted substantively to a higher post or rank, he gets a right to that particular post or rank and if he is afterwards reverted to the lower post or rank which he held before, it is a"reduction in rank" in the technical sense in which the expression is used in Article 311. The real test in all such cases is to ascertain if the officer concerned has aright to the post from which he is reverted. If he has aright to the post then a reversion is a punishment and cannot be ordered except in compliance with the provisions of Article 311. If, on the other hand, the officer concerned has no right to the post, he can be reverted without attracting the provisions of Article311. But even in this case, he cannot be reverted in a manner which will show conclusively that the intention was to punish him. The order itself may expressly state that the officer concerned is being reverted byway of punishment In fact the order may in various other ways cast a stigma on the
