Section 24(3) in The Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporations Service Rules, 1996
(3)In respect of posts for which promotion should be made by selection, the panel shall be prepared in the order of preference based on their qualifications, merit and ability seniority being taken into account only if the qualification, merit and ability are approximately equal. In respect of posts for which promotions should be made in accordance with seniority, the panel shall be prepared in accordance with seniority unless-(i)the promotion of a member has been withhold as a penalty; or(ii)the member does not possess the qualifications prescribed in the Special Rules for the post.
