Srinagar, May 6 -- Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Wednesday dismissed a petition challenging the seniority list of judicial officers, holding that once finalised and acted upon, it cannot be unsettled at the instance of "fence-sitters."

"It needs no reiteration that seniority once settled and acted upon cannot be unsettled, that too, at the instance of those who are fence-sitters and approach the Court after long delay," said a division bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar.

The bench further noted that the doctrine of delay and laches applies with greater force in matters of service, particularly seniority and promotion, as belated challenges adversely affect third parties who may have already progres...