Preference, means prior right, advantage, pre-cedence etc., Sher Singh v. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 200: (1984) 1 SCC 107.
The expression 'preference' amongst others means prior right, advantage, precedence etc. It signifies that other things being equal, one will have preference over the others, Sher Singh v. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 200 (204): (1984) 1 SCC 107: (1984) 1 SCR 464. [Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, s. 47(1H)]
The 'preference' envisaged in the Rules, cannot mean, an absolute en bloc preference akin to reservation or separate and distinct method of selection for them alone. A mere rule of preference meant to give weightage to the additional qualification cannot be enforced as a rule of reservation or rule of complete precedence, Andra Pradesh Public Service Commission v. Y.V.V.R. Srinivasulu, (2003) 5 SCC 341 (348): AIR 2003 SC 3961.
The expression 'preference' means an equitable apportionment of vacancies reserved for backward classes, Indra Sawhney v. Union of India, AIR 1993 SC 477 (578). [Constitution of India, Art. 16(4)]