Section 11(5) in Kerala Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1960
(5)An Officer whose promotion is withheld, shall, if and when promoted to a higher grade or higher time scale subsequently, on promotion, take his place at the bottom of the higher grade or higher time scale.(iv)(a)Recovery from pay of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused to a State Government or the Central Government or to a local authority by negligence or breach of orders ;(v)Reduction to a lower rank in the seniority list or to a lower grade or post or time scale whether in the same service or in another service, State or Subordinate, or to a lower stage in a time scale;Note:- (1) The period of reduction shall not be less than six months and not more than five years. If the period is not specified in the order, the period of reduction shall be deemed to be six months:Provided that in the case of reduction of rank in the seniority list, such reduction shall be permanent.(IA)Reduction to a lower grade or post shall be to the grade or the post immediately lower to the grade or the post held by the officer, but not to a grade or post lower than the grade or post to which he was initially appointed.
